CLUB V5W1N0NQ 

FOR. 

PHYSICAL EXEHCUE. 
R-EO-EATIO/J 









crCHKTZ. 


























COPYRIGHT DEPOSrr 



CLUB SWINGING 



for Physical Exercise 
and Recreation 



A Book of Information About All Forms 
of Indian Club Swinging Used in Gym- 
nasiums and by Individuals 



By 

W. J. SCHATZ 

With an Introduction by 

W. G. ANDERSON, M.D. 

Professor of Physical Education, 
Yale University 



Illustrated from Original Drawings 

Exercises Progressively Arranged 



American Gymnasia Company, 
Boston, Mass., U. S. A. 



I I wo siooles «ecoj,*2 

OCT \\ m\i 



Copyright, igoS, by 
Americm Gymnasia Co. 



CONTENTS. 

Introduction 

Part I — Elementary Club Swinging 8 

Lesson I, Heart-Shaped Circles ii 

Lesson II, Hand Circles 17 

Lesson III, Arm and Shoulder Circles . 20 
Lesson IV, Combinations of Hand and 

Arm Circles 24 

Part II — Advanced Club Swinging 31 

Lesson I, Shoulder Circles 32 

Lesson II, Parallel Circles 32 

Lesson III, Follow Circles 37 

Lesson IV, Follow Circles (continued) . 46 

Lesson V, Follow Circles (concluded) . 50 

Part III — Advanced Club Swinging, with the 

Snakes 55 

Lesson I, The Outward Snake 58 

Lesson II, Outward Half Snakes 61 

Lesson III, Perpendicular Snake Out- 
ward 62 

Lesson IV, The Forward Hip Snake ... 63 

Lesson V, Forward Hip Spiral 68 

Lesson VI, Traveling Snakes 70 



Contents. 
Part III — (Continued). 

Lesson VII, The Inward Shoulder 



Snake 73 

Lesson VIII, The Reverse Perpendicu- 
lar Snake 75 

Lesson IX, Inward, or Reverse Hip 

Snake 78 

Lesson X, Parallel Movements 8r 

Lesson XI, Reverse Spiral and the 
Follows 84 

Part IV — Exercises for Class Work 87 

Lesson I, Circles 87 

Lesson II, Pendulums 95 

Lesson III, Pendulums (concluded) ... 99 

Lesson IV, Combinations 103 

Part V — General Information 107 

Facings — Music — Torch Swinging — Ex- 
hibitions. 

Part VI — Club Swinging for General and Cor- 
rective Exercises 115 



A Suggestion in Club Swinging for 

Class Use 120 

By Paul C. Phillips, M.D. 



Index to Illustrations on last page. 



INTRODUCTION 



By W. G. ANDERSON, M. D. 

Professor of Physical Education, and 
Director of Gymnasium, Yale University. 



AFTER a quarter of a century's experience teach- 
ing gymnastics I feel more strongly drawn 
than ever to the use of the clubs as a helpful and 
pleasing form of exercise. 

True, there are some objections to them from the 
so-called hygienic standpoint, but these objections are 
out-weighed by the factors in their favor. The ar- 
guments against the club movements may just as 
rightly be made against many of the movements 
given with the wands and bells, but as it is possible 
and probable that the exercises which bring the arms 
too much in front of the body are at once counter- 
acted by circles that raise the shoulders and draw 
back the scapulae, I doubt much if any harm comes 
pleasing form of exercise. 

The time will never come I hope when the ele- 
ment of pleasure in exercise will be overlooked. 
There is more that is pleasurable in club swinging, 
especially accompanied by good music, than in many 

8 



INTRODUCTION 



movements with other pieces of light apparatus and 
I have noticed that pupils call for the clubs more fre- 
quently than for bells or wands. 

Only the most expert performer wil approximate 
the mastery of the clubs ; the combinations are so^ 
numerous and difficult that one must be a specialist 
to even stand on the threshold of complete knowl- 
edge of the thousand and one movements. 

A limited use of the gray matter will enable one to 
learn many movements without a teacher, especially 
if he has a book like this at his elbow. The simple 
circles made with wrist or arm either in front of or 
back of the body above the head, at the shoulders or 
waist to "reel," ''follow" or "double" time, will open 
a field for work that is very hard to cover. 

When we further consider that every circle can be 
reversed, that all snakes may be reversd, no matter 
what the cadence or "time," and that the component 
parts of the snakes may be used and also reversed, 
we have before us a series of bewildering combina-^ 
tions that will call for years of work to learn. 

As a remedial and curative agent in sprains and 
strains of the shoulder, elbow and wrist points I have 
had pronounced success with light clubs. Wrestlers, 
foot and base-ball players, and gymnasts, have been 
greatly aided in getting back the normal tonicity of, 
ligaments and muscles by "reels," wrist circles, etc. 

That the Indian Club is the only piece of light ap- 
paratus adopted by the collegiate and intercollegi^ 

9 



CLUB SWINGING 



ate gymnastic societies is an argument in its favor 
not to be lightly passed by. 

As physical training is constantly progressive there 
is a field for any book that is thoroughly up to date. 
I have examined Mr. Schatz's work and find it 
good. 

Mr. Schatz is an expert club swinger as well as a 
teacher of gymnastics, hence he can and has com- 
bined the knowledge of the former with the experi- 
ence of the latter in such a manner as to produce a 
hook that will be helpful alike to teacher and pupil. 

W. G. Anderson. 



10 



Part I. 

ELEMENTARY CLUB SWINGING. 



PART 1. 



ELEMENTARY CLUB SWINGING. 

The proper starting position is shown in Fig. i. 
Stand erect, chest arched, heels about two inches 
apart, and feet at an angle of forty-five degrees. Look 
straight ahead, don't move the body unless so directed ; 
let the arm do the swinging, or rather let the club 
swing the arm. The body should remain as motion- 
less as a statue; the arms should act as moving ap- 
pendages. Little effort is required to keep the club 
in motion, for after it is started its own weight will 
almost do the work. 

The grasp of the club varies with the different work 
to be done, but the club is generally held between the 
thumb and first two fingers. If the club is held with 
the thumb and all the fingers, some movements cannot 
be executed which the above grasp renders easy. The 
grasp with its variations will be explained from time 
to time as occasion requires. For the benefit of the 
pupil, special pains were taken in order to secure ac- 
curate illustrations of the grasp and the positions. 

Circles, — a^m md hmd. An arm circle is a circle 
made by swinging the club with the arm extended, the 
shoulder being the center of the circle. The term 
arm circle is generally used to denote any part of a 

13 



CLUB SWINGING 



circle described by extending the arm as in Fig. i 
from "a" to "b ;" and the term full-arm circle is used 
to designate a complete circle described with the club. 

A hand circle, sometimes called the short or wrist 
circle, is made by describing a circle with the base of 
the club, the hand being the center of the circle. ( Fig. 
4.) 

A heart'Shaped circle is shown in Fig. i. 

A pendulum is usually an arm circle going from 
shoulder high to shoulder high, but the arc described 
may be more or less than a half-circle. 

Directions : Circles are executed right and left, for- 
ward and backward, in the vertical plane, and right 
and left in the horizontal plane; in fact they may be 
executed in almost any conceivable plane and direc- 
tion. 

It will be noticed that in this work few circles are 
described that are not executed to the right and left, 
that is, in a vertical plane parallel to a plane passing 
from side to side through the body, when standing at 
attention; the reason being that the effect of forward 
and backward movements can easily be reached by 
simply turning the trunk to the right or left. At the 
same time the continuous motion of the club, thus 
swung, contributes to the ease of learning combina- 
tions and exercises, which, if the club were swung 
in mixed planes, would be more confusing. This 
method is also more effective in exhibition work, as it 
presents a better view to the spectator. 



14 



PART ONE 



All circles are considered as starting from the 
starting position, and are named accordingly. 

When a circle is started away from the head, by 
swinging the club in the lateral plane, that is, the right 
club to the right, the left club to the left, it is called 
an outward circle; when toward the head an inward 




circle. Fig. i shows a double outward circle. In 
swinging in the other planes the circles are named 
from the direction the club takes when it starts the 
circle, as backward, forward, etc. These latter move- 
ments are given in Part IV. 

The Pendulum movements, etc., where the club is 
swung in one direction, then brought to a stop, then 
swung with the direction reversed, have been left for 
Part IV, because it has been thought best to give the 
continuous movements first. It is hoped that this 



15 



CLUB SWINGING 



method will be helpful to the pupil, as a pupil who 
swings an arm circle will often hesitate before doing 
the hand circle, supposed to follow it, because he does 
not know which direction the club is to go. For this 
reason the continuous movements have been arranged 
together, and all the pupil will have to do is to allow 
the club to swing in the direction it naturally will take, 
thereby indicating its proper course. It will be seen 
that one of the first requisites, then, is to hold the club 
easily, and to swing it with just enough effort to keep 
it going, and merely direct it. This applies especially 
to fancy work. 

The work contained in this volume has been ar- 
ranged in progressive order, and the transition from 
the very simple to the most intricate work has been 
as gradual as could be conveniently planned. Some 
of the movements can be very easily acquired, though 
others will require perseverance and long practice to 
master. 

Always practice the movement first with one hand; 
then, after the movement is mastered with that hand, 
take the other; and finally use both together. Prac- 
tice each movement until it becomes almost auto- 
matic, so that the m.ovement is thought of simply 
while the club moves along smoothly with scarcely 
any conscious effort on the part of the performer. 

Standing in front of a mirror in very helpful to the 
pupil, as it gives him an exact idea of how he is per- 
forming. 



16 



LESSON L 



HEART-SHAPED CIRCLES. 

1. From starting position, raise the right club up- 
ward and outward, extending the arm; as you reach 
"a" (Fig. i), let the club swing as indicated, coming 
to position again. This is an outward heart-shaped 
circle. 

2. Continue the movement a number of times, and 
as the club swings from that part of the arc marked 
"a" to "b/' count i ; and as the club is brought down 
to position, count 2; let there be a little bound to the 
movement from ''b" to "a." (This bound will help 
later when the hand circle is substituted for count 2.) 
In the heart-shaped circle the circle is i, and the 
bound 2 ; in the regular work it would be i for the arm 
circle and 2 for the hand circle. 

3. Same as exercise 2, but use the left. 

4. Sv/ing both clubs outward simultaneously, de- 
scribing a heart-shaped circle with each hand. This 
is a double outward heart-shaped circle. (Circle i, 
bound 2). Fig. i shows this exercise. 

5. Swing club inward, executing a right inward 
heart-shaped circle. Repeat for left. 

6. Double inzmrd heart-shaped circle. In exercises 
5 and 6, the clubs move in a direction opposite to that 
indicated in Fig. i. 

17 



CLUB SWINGING 



7. Swing right outward circle i, bound 2; then 
swing left outward circle 3, bound 4 ; continue for 16 
counts. 

8. Swing right outward circle i, bound 2; and 
have left start an outward while the right is execut- 
ing count I ; the left executing the bound on i and 
circle on 2. Fig. 2 shows position of right club when 
the left is starting. 

9. Same as exercise 7, but inward. 

10. Same as exercise 8, but inward. 

11. Starting both clubs together, swing a left in- 
ward and a right outward heart-shaped circle. Fig. 
3 shows the start; and, at X, the relative position of 
the clubs as they swing downward. They remain par- 
allel throughout the entire movement. Circle, count 
I ; bound, count 2. This is known as the parallel 
movement. 




18 



LESSON 11. 



HAND CIRCLES. 

1. Hold the club in front of the body as in Fig 4; 
let it fall forward, continuing the circle as indicated. 
This is a forwa/rd hand circle; also known as an out- 
w<ird hand circle in front. Circle for 16 counts. 

2. (A) Start as above, but with both hands held 
in front of body and executing forward circles; (B) 
gradually separate hands, bringing them backward 
until they are at sides. In this movement the clubs 
execute outward circles; — double forward hand cir- 
cles in A, and double outward hand circles in B. The 
latter is generally called a shoulder circle instead of a 
ha/nd circle. Fig. 5 shows the right hand executing 
an outward shoulder circle. 

3. Same as exercise i ; but let club fall backward 
toward shoulder, and continue the circle for 16 counts. 
This is a backward circle in front, or as sometimes 
called, an inzi/ard circle in front, because the club falls 
inward toward the shoulder. 

4. Same as exercise 2; but circle backward. In 
this movement the club will come to the sides swing- 
ing the double inward shoulder circle. 



19 



LESSON III. 



ARM AND SHOULDER CIRCLES. 

1. As in Lesson I, exercise 2, start right arm circle 
outward, count i ; but for count 2, instead of the 
bound, substitute a shoulder circle outward. Repeat 
for left. 

2. Same as exercise i, but inward. 

3. Same as exercise i, but double outward; also 
double inward. 

4. Parallel arm and shoulder circles to the right, 
that is, same as Lesson I, exercise 1 1 ; but substitute 
shoulder circles for count 2. 

In order to render this parallel movement less diffi- 
cult to learn, let the pupils start heart-shaped circles to 
the right as in Lesson I, exercise 1 1 ; but instead of 
starting from position, lay clubs on the shoulders, 
with the trunk turned to the right, and swing the clubs 
parallel upward and to the right. As the clubs come 
downward to execute the arm circle, turn the trunk 
front, I ; then, as the clubs rise on the left side, turn 
trunk left and receive clubs on shoulders ; then turn 
trunk to the right and start again, 2. Continue this 
movement; but gradually lay the clubs farther back 
at every circle,, until they finally hang down the back. 
By so doing, the pupil will find himself executing the 



20 



PART ONE 



full parallel movement with arm and shoulder circles. 
Of course, after the movement is learned, the pupil 
must gradually diminish the trunk-turning until the 
movement is done with trunk front during the entire 
exercise. 

In this movement great care should be exercised 
that the shoulder circles are started at exactly the 
same time, so that the movements will be truly paral- 
lel. 

5. Execute two outward shoulder circles with the 
right, I and 2; at same time swing left arm circle 
outward, i, and left shoulder circle, 2; continue for 
16 counts. 

6. Same as exercise 5, but execute the continuous 
shoulder circles with the left, and the arm and shoul- 
der circle with the right. 

7. Sw4ng double outward shoulder and arm cir- 
cles as in exercise 3. After swinging continuously 
for 8 counts, instead of executing an arm and shoul- 
der circle with the right, substitute two shoulder cir- 
cles, and then proceed as before with the arm and 
shoulder circle. The movement executed is an alter- 
nate movement; that is, a right shoulder circle and 
a left arm circle simultaneously, and a right arm cir- 
cle and a left shoulder circle simultaneously. This 
movement is known as the reel 

8. To change from the alternate movement to the 
double movement, substitute two shoulder circles for 
the arm and shoulder circles made by the right. 



21 



CLUB SWINGING 



9. The follow movement, or windmill. In this 
movement, going to the right, the right executes an 
outward shoulder circle, 4; and an arm circle out- 
ward, 2; the left executes an inward shoulder circle, 
3, and an arm circle, i ; the clubs are a quarter circle 
apart at all times during the movement. Fig. 6 shows 
this movement. 

This movement is sometimes difficult to learn, but 
if the following method is used it can be mastered 
quite readily. Start parallel movement as in exercise 
4; after 4 counts, as soon as the shoulder circles have 
been executed, instead of having clubs come down 
into parallel arm circle, let the left lead a little ; in- 
crease this lead at every circle until the clubs are just 
a quarter circle apart. 




22 



LESSON IV. 



COMBINATIONS OF HAND AND ARM 
CIRCLES. 

There are a great variety of hand circles to be com- 
bined witli arm circles, — a list of those most used fol- 
lows. Practice each separately with each hand, in- 
ward and outward, and combine each with an arm 
circle. Fig. 5 shows the right executing a shoulder 
circle and the left and upper front. These circles are 
sometimes executed with the arms more nearly ex- 
tended than shown in the illustration. The shoulder 
circle is executed with the ring grip, the club rolling 
around loosely in the ring formed by the thumb and 
forefinger. Fig. 46 shows plainly the ring grip on 
the right hand, as do Figs. 6, 11 and 12. 

The upper front circle is executed with the hand 
and the handle of club forming a hall and socket joint; 
(Fug. 5). The wrist is not flexed in this circle; but 
the handle of the club, held by thumb and forefinger, 
rolls around loosely in the grasp, thus forming the 
assumed ball-and-socket joint. 

I. Continuous upper fronts with right, same with 
left; same double. Practice them in botli outward 
and inward movements. 



24 



PART ONE 

2. Continuous shoulder circles with right; same 
with left; same double. Inward and outward move- 
ments. 

3. Upper front outward with right, i ; arm circle 
outward, 2. Same left. Same double. 

4. Same as exercise 3, but inward movement. 




5. Outward movement, double arm circle, i ; 
double upper front, 2; double shoulder, 3. 

6. Same, inward movement. 

7. Same, parallel movement, right and left. 

8. Right executes shoulder circle, i, and upper 
front, 2, while left executes the upper front, i, and 



25 



CLUB SWINGING 



.shoulder circle, 2. This movement is known as the 
short reel. 

9. Change from reel to short reel, to reel, etc. 
The lower front circle. Fig. 7 shows lower front 

outward combined with arm circle. The lower front is 
executed with the ring grip. 

10. Continuous lower fronts, inward movement, 
each hand; also outward movement. Each 16 counts. 

11. Combine arm circle and lower front, outward 
movement, with the right, for 16 counts; (Fig. 7). 
Same inward. 

12. Outward movements; combine arm circle, I, 
lower front, 2, and upper front, 3 ; continue for 12 
counts. Same inward. Each hand separately. 

13. Combine right outward upper front, i, shoul- 
der 2, arm, 3, and lower front, 4. Same inward. Same 
left. 

It will be noticed that when combinations are exe- 
cuted in which the lower front is used it appears to 
count two; this happens because on coming down 
from position to lower front only one-half of the 
arm circle is executed, and the other half is exe- 
cuted after the low^er front has been completed. The 
first count, I, is really the first half of the arm circle 
and the first half of the lower front ; and the second 
count, 2, is the second half of the lower front and 
i:he second half of the arm circle. 

14. Execute exercises 11, 12, and 13 double. 
The lower back outward. Take a firm grip on club 

26 



PART ONE 



and start from position; swing outward and down- 
ward and back of hip, and, as the club rises, bend the 
wrist; as club rises to position occupied by club in 
Fig, 8, which shows right executing lower front, 
draw the hand forward, keeping it close to the body. 
In the inward movement the hand is held close to the 
body while the club is going back, instead of close to 
body on coming forward. Practice inward and out- 
ward combined, with the arm circle, each hand sepa- 
rately. 




The extended arm, hand circle. Fig. lo shows the 
right executing this circle. It is generally executed 
with arm horizontal, obliquely upward and obliquely 
downward. The circle is executed both in front of and 
in back of the arm. 

Under Arm Circle. Fig. lo shows left executing 
the under arm ; dotted line shows course of club be- 
hind body. 

Over Arm Circle. Fig. i6 shows the left executing 

27 



CLUB SWINGING 



the over arm inward. Fig. 14 shows right executing 
an outward over arm circle. The word *'arm-circle" 
is used to denote the act of making an arm circle 
or part thereof. 

Waist Circles are four in number. In Fig. 11 the 
left is executing a front waists arm over back. If the 
left in this position were to execute a circle behind 
the body, it would be doing a back waist, arm over 
back. If, as in Fig. 10, the left were brought down 
waist high and the circle executed behind the body, 
it would be a back waist, arm over front; and if the 
circle were executed in front of the body, it would be 
a front waist, arm over front. 

After the hand circles given thus far have been 
practiced with each hand separately, they can be com- 
bined with arm circles, both inward and outward, in 
the parallel, follovv^, and in the double and alternate 
movements. Examples follow in lessons on advanced 
work. 

In the preceding lessons the elementary work has 
been given. The work that follows consists of com- 
binations of these elements, with the addition of the 
snakes and spirals. As nearly as is consistent, the 
work follows in graded form. 



28 



Part IL 

ADVANCED CLUB SWINGING. 



PART II 



ADVANCED CLUB SWINGING 

LESSON I 
SHOULDER CIRCLES. 

1. Double shoulder circle, i, double arm circle, 2; 
outward or inward movement. 

2. Alternate movement, left shoulder circle and 
right arm circle, i, right shoulder circle and left arm 
circle, 2 ; outward or inward. 

3. Execute two shoulder circles, right outward, i, 
2, arm circle to lower front and up again, 3, 4. This 
sombination is sometimes known as the long reel. 
Same inward movement. 

4. Double upper front circle, i, double arm circle, 
2 ; outward or inward movemicnt. 

5. Double upper front circle, i, double arm circle 
to double lower front and up again, 2, 3 ; outward or 
inward movement. 

6. Com.bine shoulder, upper front, and lower front 
in double movement, either inward or outward. 

7. To exercise 6, add lower back circle. 

8. Upper front, i, shoulder, 2, arm extended horiz- 
ontally, 3, arm extended obliquely dow^nward, 4, lower 
back, 5, lower front, 6 and 7, shoulder, 8. Swing the 
above in the double outward movement. 



32 



CLUB SWINGING 



9. Double inward movement, arm circle down and 
lower front, i, 2, hand circle, arm extended horizontal- 
ly, 3, upper front, 4. 

10. Change from the alternate movement into the 
double movement by substituting a hand circle for one 
of the arm circles with one hand. Change from double 
into alternate by the same method. If this change is 
made continuous, and once with right and then with 
left, a pleasing movement is the result. 

II. Execute the long reel inward, and have the 
centers of the lower fronts and the shoulder circles 
directly in the median line of the body. Instead of the 
shoulder circles this becomes more of an extended arm 
hand circle above the head. 

12. Alterrjite movement, two shoulder circles and 
lower back; outward movement. 

13. Alternate movement, upper front, shoulder, and 
lower back; outward movement. 

14. Alternate movem.ent, upper front, shoulder cir- 
cle, lower back and lower front; outward movement. 

Observe that in the last three exercises the lower cir- 
cles are made with one hand and the upper circles are 
extended with the other. The circles are executed 
w4th each hand in the order in which they are named. 

15. Alternate movement; right executes shoulder 
circle, 2 ; trunk turning right ; right executes a for- 
ward circle, 2 ; trunk turns forward and then to left as 
right is arm-circled over to left, 3, there executing a 
backward circle, 4; the left arm circles, i, over to 



34 



PART TWO 



right side as the trunk is turned to right and there de- 
scribes a backward circle, 2; then as the trunk is 
turned front the left is swung up overhead and exe- 
cutes a forward circle, 4. To sum up, the left is exe- 
cuting an arm circle while the right is executing a 
shoulder circle; both hands are executing a circle in 
front of the body with the trunk turned to the right, 
the clubs are going in opposite directions ; then, as the 




trunk is turned to the left, the left executes a shoulder 
circle and the right an arm circle, both meeting again 
in front of the body, each going in opposite directions ; 
outward movement. 

16. Same as above, except that an upper front is 
executed before the shoulder circle, and a lower back 
and lower front is added. The right executes upper 
front, I ; shoulder circle, 2 ; forward circle with trunk 
turned to right, 3 ; trunk turned front lower back, 4, 
and lower front, 5 ; backward circle with trunk turned 
to left, 6, the backward circle being made in this • in- 
stance on the inside instead of on the outside of the 



35 



CLUB SWINGING 



arm. The left executes a lower back, i ; lower front, 
2 ; trunk turned to right, a backward circle on the in- 
side of the arm, 3 ; trunk turned front upper front, 4 ; 
shoulder circle, 5 ; and trunk turned left a forward 
circle, 6, outward movement. 

17. Start outward arm circle with both clubs; let 
left swing as in Fig. 11 to execute a front waist arm- 
over-back circle, while right makes an arm circle 
and also executes a shoulder circle, i, 2; left 
comes out as in Fig. 11, swings up, and executes its 
shoulder circle, while the right executes two shoulder 
circles, 3, 4. 

18. Let the right hand follow the work given to the 
left in exercise 17; and let the left execute the arm 
circle and three shoulder circles. 

19. Combine the right work of exercise 18 with the 
left of exercise 17. 

20. From position, arm-circle outward with both 
clubs, bringing them up as though to execute shoulder 
circles, but overlapping them as in Fig. 12 (the broken 
line and arrows indicate the course taken by left club). 
Let the clubs swing on, completing the hand circles, 
and be ready to go into arm circles. 

Fig. 13 shows the position of the hands just before 
clubs rise again. The broken line and arrows indicate 
the course the left club has taken from the time the 
club rose overhead and executed its hand circle to the 
point where it is about to start another arm circle. 
This movement is known as the scissors. 



36 



LESSON II 



PARALLEL CIRCLES 

The movements are here described as going paral- 
lel to the right; naturally, the pupil should practice 
them to the left also. If the method given in Part 
I, Lesson III, Exercise 4, is employed in learning 
some of the movements here given, it will be easier to 
master the work; but as soon as they can be executed 
fairly well, perfect form should be observed. The body 
must remain like a statue, and the arms alone move. 
Sometimes the trunk is turned, and such exceptions 
are stated. 

1. Parallel shoulder circles, i, arm circles, 2. 

2. Parallel upper fronts, i, shoulder circles, 2, arm 
circles, 3. 

3. Parallel upper fronts, i, shoulder circles, 2, arm 
circles with lower front, 3, 4. 

4. Parallel upper fronts, i, shoulder circles, 2, arm 
circles with lower backs, 3, 4. 

5. Parallel shoulder circles, i, upper fronts, 2, 
shoulder circles, 3, arm circles with lower backs and 
and lower fronts, 4, 5, 6. 

6. Continuous parallel upper fronts and shoulder 
circles, then arm-circle down and execute continuous 
lower backs and lower fronts, arm circles up again, 
etc. 

37 



CLUB SWINGING 



7. Parallel upper fronts, i, arm-circle with lower 
fronts, 2, 3. 

8. Parallel shoulder circles, i, arm-circle with low- 
er backs, 2, 3. 

9. Parallel upper fronts, i, shoulder circles, 2, 
turning trunk to right, execute forward circles, 3; 
turning trunk forward again, lower backs and lower 
fronts, 4, 5 and 6; turning trunk left, execute back- 
ward circles, 7; turning trunk forward, execute 
shoulder circles, 8. 




10. Same as above exercise; but on count 3 execute 
the forward circles with the arms crossed; that is, 
just as the shoulder circles have been executed and the 
trunk is turning to the right, cross arms, left wrist 
over right. The forward circles will be executed 
thus : the one w^ith the right will be on outside of 
left forearm, the one with the left outside of right 
forearm ; for count 7 execute the backward circles 
with arms crossed, left wrist on right wrist. 

11. Execute with the right a lower back and a low- 
er front, I, 2, 3; execute with the left a lower front 

38 



PART TWO 



and a lower back, i, 2, 3 ; combine the right and left 
hand work and the shift is the result. This is some- 
times called the split also. 

12. Same as exercise 10, but substitute the shift 
for counts 4, 5, and 6. 

13. Parallel, starting from position, arm circles, i, 
right-over-arm circle and left-extended-horizontal 
hand circle, 2. 




14. Parallel, starting from position, arm circles, i, 
left-over-arm and right-extending horizontal, hand 
circle, 2. 

15. Parallel arm circles, i, shoulder and hand cir- 
cles, as in exercise 13, 2, arm circles, 3, shoulder and 
hand circles, as in exercise 14, 4. 

16. Same as exercise 15, but substitute upper fronts 
for count 3. The parallel fountain is the result. 

17. Same as exercise 16, but for the arm circles, 
count I, substitute a parallel short arm circle; Fig. 17 
shows how the clubs are passed in this exercise. 



39 



CLUB SWINGING 



18. Same as exercise 12, but for counts i, 2, and 
3 substitute right-over-arm and left-extended-horiz- 
ontal hand circles, upper fronts, 2, and left-over-arm 
and right-extended-horizontal hand circles, 3. 

19. Parallel movement; right-over-arm and left- 
extended-horizontal circles, i ; upper fronts, 2 ; left- 
over-arm and right-extended-horizontal, 3 ; left-under- 
arm and right-extended-horizontal hand circle (Fig. 
10), 4; pass left around to execute a front w^aist 
arm-over back circle and at the same time circle 
right-extended-horizontal, 5 ; now execute the front 
waist arm-over-back circle and another circle right- 
extended-horizontal, 6; after having completed the 
waist circle swing the left over to the left-extended- 
horizontal position and the right to front waist 
arm-over-back position, 7 ; execute one circle here 
with each hand, 8; left-extended-horizontal circle 
and swing right around ready to execute an under- 
arm, 9; execute the right-under-arm circle and at 
the same time a left-extended-horizontal hand cir- 
cle, 10; and the entire circuit has been made. Re- 
peat the exercise four times. 

On counts 6 and 8, the extended-arm-horizontal 
hand circle should be made in front of the arm instead 
of back of the arm, as, executed in this way, it will 
harmonize better, as the waist circles arm-over-back 
are fronts. 

20. Parallel movement: arm circles, i, shoulder 
circles, 2, left shoulder circle and right arm circle, 3, 
shoulder circles, 4. 

40 



PART TWO 



21. As in exercise 20, execute counts I, 2, 3 and 4, 
but arm-circle left and shoulder circle right for 5, 
shoulder circles both right and left for 6; continue 
the exercise by continually repeating counts 3, 4, 5, 
and 6. 

22. This exercise as stated in exercise 21 may also 
be executed by continuing 3 and 5, but this is not so 
rhythmical, nor does it appear quite so pleasing to the 
eye. 

23. Left executes three shoulder circles while the 
right arm circles with a lower front and then shoul- 
der-circles, I, 2, 3 ; then the right executes there shoul- 
der circles, while the left arm circles with a lower 
front and shoulder-circles again, 4, 5, 6. 

24. Same as the above exercise, but substitute low- 
er backs instead of the lower fronts. 

25. Same as exercise 23, but execute four shoulder 
circles above and add a lower back below. 




41 



LESSON III 



FOLLOW CIRCLES 

The movements are described as going to the right. 
ISIaturally the pupil should practice them to the left 
also. The trunk turning principle may be employed 
here as in the parallels ; but after the movement is 
learned, correct form should be observed. 

1. Follow, left arm circle, i, right arm circle, 2, 
left shoulder circle, 3, and right shoulder circle, 4. 

2. Same as exercise i, except that left executes an 
over arm circle on 3. 

3. Same as exercise i, except that right executes 
^n over arm circle on 4. 

4. Execute exercises 2 and 3 alternately. 

5. Follow, left arm circle, i, right arm circle, 2, left 
shoulder circle, 3, right over arm circle, 4, left upper 
front circle, 5, right upper front,6, left over arm, 7, 
right shoulder circle 8. This movement, without 
counts I and 2, is known as the upper fountain. Fig. 
14 shows how the clubs and hands are placed when 
about to execute counts 3 and 4; Fig. 15 shows posi- 
tion of clubs and arms starting to execute upper 
fronts. The pupil should be sure to have these cir- 
cles well up. Fig. 16 shows the position of the 
clubs and hands when about to execute counts 7 and 



42 



PART TWO 



8. The broken lines and arrows in the three figures 
indicate the course taken by the left club ; "c" is the 
completed shouMer circle, "b" is the upper front, 
and ''a" the over arm. The circles behind the shoul- 
ders should be executed well down ; then the clubs 
should run up in executing the upper fronts ; and 
then again come down to execute the circles behind. 

6. Same as exercise 5, but instead of an arm cir- 
cle pass clubs across chest by short arm circles, as is 
shown in Fig. 17. The line and arrows indicate course 
of right club; "a" is where the shoulder circle was 
completed and the short arm circle begun; "c" marks 
the place where the short arm ends and the over 
arm begins. 

7. Left upper front circle, i ; right upper front, 2 ; 
left shoulder circle, 3 ; right shoulder circle, 4. After 
the exercise has been mastered as stated above, begin 
to straighten the arms while executing the shoulder 
circles, and try to keep the hands close together and 
directly above head. 

8. Start an upper fountain, and as clubs come to 
the upper fronts introduce the continuous circles as 
given in exercise 7, executing them four times before 
completing the fountain. In all fountain movements 
it should be the aim to keep the hands close together; 
and, as in Fig. 14, the center of the over arm circle 
and shoulder circle should be exactly in the same 
place. The center of both the upper fronts should 
be exactly the same point, directly upward from the 



43 



CLUB SWINGING 



median line of the head and about as nearly at arm's 
length as possible. The over arm and shoulder cir- 
cles, also (see Fig. 15) should have their center as 
nearly as possible at the same point, which should be 
close to the body. 

9. Follow arm circles, i, 2; shoulder circles, 3, 4; 
forward follow circles, turning trunk to right, 5, 6; 
arm circle, trunk front, 7, 8; backward circles, turn- 
ing trunk to left, 9, 10. Repeat, omitting arm circles, 

1, 2. Fig. 9 shows follow circles forward, with 
trunk turned to left. 

10. Execute the upper fountain, i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; for- 
ward follows trunk turned to right, 7, 8; arm cir- 
cles, 9, 10; backward follows trunk turned to left, 
II, 12; continue. The forward circles at right, and 
backward circles at left, may be continued from 
four to six counts before proceeding to next move- 
ment. 

11. See Lesson II, exercise 11, and practice it in 
the follow time. This is the follow shift, counting I, 

2, 3, 4, 5. 6. 

12. Same as exercise 10, but for the arm circles 9 
and 10 substitute the follow shift; which will give the 
entire movement 16 counts. 

13. Same as exercise 11 ; but as the right comes be- 
hind the body to execute the lower back circle, place 
the wrist in the median line of the body and about 
waist high, and make a continuous lower back circle. 
The wrist thus pressed against the back will aid in 

44 



PART TWO 



keeping the center of the continuous circles at the 
same place ; meanwhile the left executes lower 
fronts, with center also in the median line in front 
and a t the same level as that with which the lower 
backs are executed. After several continuous cir- 
cles have been executed in this position, bring the 
right forward and execute continuous lower fronts, 
and bring the left back, executing continuous lower 
backs ; the same rule as to the centers of the circles 
in the median line of body, and same level also, 
in the median line of bodys, and same level also, 
applies here. 

This movement is known, on account of the re- 
semblance, as the pin wheel. With decorated clubs, 
it has the fullest effect. Care must be taken that 
the movement is executed in strict follow time. 



LESSON IV 



FOLLOW CIRCLES (Continued). 

1. Follow, execute lower back circles with right, 
I ; back waist circles, arm over front, with left, 2 ; 
lower front right, 3 ; and front waist, arm-over- 
front, with left, 4. Fig. 18 shows the position of 
clubs and arms when about to begin this exercise. 
The broken lines and arrows have nothing to do 
with this movement. Continue for 24 counts. This 
is known as the hip coffee grind, front. 

2. Follow, execute lower back circle with right, i, 
back waist circle, arm-over-back, with left, 2 ; lower 
front right, 3 ; and front waist, arm-over-back, with 
left, 4 ; make this continuous for 24 counts. Fig. 22 
shows the position of clubs and arms when about 
to begin this movement. The lines and arrows have 
nothing to do with this exercise, which is known 
as the hip coffee grind, hack, 

3. Follow, right back waist arm-over-front, i, low- 
er back left, 2, right front waist, arm over front, 3 ; 
lower front left, 4. See Fig. 20 for position of arms 
and clubs ready to begin. Broken line does not ap- 
ply to this exercise. 

4. Follow, right front waist, arm-over-back circle, 
I, left lower front, 2, right back waist, arm-over- 

46 



PART TWO 



back, 3 ; left lower back, 4. See Fig. 24 for position; 
of arms and clubs about to begin exercise. Broken 
lines do not apply. 

5. Follow. Practice separately each hand first, 
then combine. Right lower back, i, right lower front 
in median line of body, 3, right back waist arm over 
front, 5, left back waist, arm over front, 2, lower 
front in median line of body, 4, and lower back, 6. 
Fig. 18 shows the clubs and arms in position to be- 
gin exercise. The broken line indicates the course 
taken by the right, and the dotted portions indicate 
the club's course behind the body. Fig. 20 shows 
position of arms and clubs just as the lower fronts 
are completed and the clubs are about to begin the 
circles behind the body ; the broken line shows 
course taken by right club. 

After the exercise has been executed as stated 
above, either add arm circles or pass them across 
body with short arm circles (Fig. 21). The broken 
line indicates direction taken. This exercise, with 
the Pass, as in Fig. 21, combined with the circles in 
counts, I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, constitutes what is known as 
the lower front fountain. 

6. Follow. Practice separately with each hand, 
then combine. Right lower front, i, right lower back 
in median line of body, 3, right front waist, arm over 
back, 5, and pass by short arm to right side again, 7 ; 
left front waist, arm over back, 2, lower back in med- 
ian line of body, left lower front, 4, and pass back to 

47 



CLUB SWINGING 



position over back, 6. Figures 22, 23, 24, and 25 
show the positions of the chibs and arms in executing 
the various circles. The broken Hne indicates the 
course of the right club. The illustrations show how 
the hands are crossed and recrossed, and how the 
pass back to starting position is made by short arm. 
This exercise is known as the lozver hack fountain. 

7. Combine the upper fountain with the lower 
front fountain by executing an extra circle with the 
right in front of left shoulder. When coming from 
the lower to the upper fountain execute an extra cir- 
<:le in front of hip with right (front waist right over 
front). 

8. To combine the lower back and lower front 
fountains. Execute the lower front fountain, and 
then instead of bringing left over in front bring it 
over in back, and the arms will be in position to 
-execute the lower back fountain. 

To come to the lower front fountain from the 
lower back after executing the lower back, simply 
pass left to arm over front instead of arm over back, 
-and proceed with the lower front. 

9. Combine upper front fountain with lower front, 
and run into lower back, then lower front, then low- 
■€r back, lower front, and up to upper front. 

10. Add to exercise 9 follow circles at right and 
left, also the follow circles directly above head. 

II. Execute upper fountain, i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; then 
hring left under right arm pit, executing an under 

4S 



PART TWO 



arm, 7, while right executes a complete arm circle, 8; 
continue the right arm circle, bringing the right under 
left arm pit, 10, executing an under arm circle, 12, 
while left arm circles out from under right arm pit, 
9, and adds a complete arm circle, 11 having thus, for 
its counts 7, 9, and 11 executed an under arm circle 
and arm circled downward and around to left, up- 
ward and across face, and clear around again to po- 
sition; the right, for 8, 11, and 12, executes one com- 
plete arm circle and continues arm-circling until it 
reaches the left arm pit, where it executes an under 
arm circle. 



LESSON V 



FOLLOW CIRCLES (Concluded). 

1. During the exercise hold the left club horizontal 
in position occupied by left club in Fig. i6; With the 
right execute an arm circle, 2, reaching over left wrist, 
shoulder circle, 4, then, as the club comes out from 
the shoulder circle, swing under the left club, execut- 
ing a regular shoulder circle, 6. Counts 4 and 6 are 
similar to an over arm circle followed immediately by 
an under arm circle; the left club taking the place 
of the arm in this case. 

2. Hold the right club vertical and about four in- 
ches in front of right shoulder, as in the right club 
position shown in Fig. 16, and maintain this position 
throughout the entire exercise. Left arm circle, i ; 
then, as it reaches the position shown in Fig. 16, it 
reaches forward, — that is, with the backs of the wrists 
together, the left wrist is extended, thus enabling it to 
execute a circle in front of the right ; the circle is made 
with the ring grip, 3. (Fig. 12 gives an idea of how 
the left could reach forward and execute this circle) 
After having completed this circle the left executes 
an over arm circle, 5 and is in a position to begin the 
exercise again. 

50 



PART TWO 



3. Combine exercises i and 2, and what is known 
as the Tangle will result; this exercise is also known 
as twister and tying the knot, each name being quite 
appropriate. 

4. Exercise 3 is sometimes supplemented by the 
exercise about to be described, the combination being 
known as the double tangle; assuming the descrip- 
tion as the supplement, the exercise is begun where 
exercise 3 is ended. The starting position is then 
like the position of the arms and clubs in Fig. 16, with 
the exception that the left is in front of the right, (a) 
Allow the right club to drop to the horizontal posi- 
tion ; both clubs now being parallel, left reaching back 
executes a circle behind the right shoulder, 7; this 
circle is practically a left under arm circle, the right 
club held horizontal representing the arm; as the left 
club rises while executing the circle just described, be- 
gin to extend the wrist, and reaching forward over 
the right club execute a circle in front of that club, 9. 
This circle is executed with the ring grip ; the left 
executes an arm circle, 11. (b) Instead of allowing 
the right to drop horizontal and thereby parallel to the 
left as in (a), bringing the left vertical and thereby 
at right angles to the right, extend right wrist, and 
reaching to right and around under the left club, 
execute a shoulder circle, 8; still keeping the right 
wrist over left, execute a circle in front of the left 
club, 10, and then arm circle, 12. 

Combine (a) and (b) and the result will be the 

51 



CLUB SWINGING 



supplement to the tangle ; and the two together con- 
stitute the double tangle. 

5. Hip tangle, (a) Starting from position with 
right, allow left club to hang at arm's length at left 
side, but about four inches in front of left knee ; swing 
right club by arm-circling, 2, downward and between 
the left and the knee (see Fig. 20 for position of 
arms ; broken lines do not apply) ; there, keeping 
wrists in position, reaching to the right around in 
front of the left club, execute a circle with the ring 
grip, 4. (b) Place the right hand on the front of 
the left hip and point the club obliquely down- 
ward left. (Fig. 20 shows the right in practically 
this position). Now, starting from position with the 
left, arm-circle downward and execute a lower front 
in front of the right arm, I, then, as the lower part 
of this circle is completed, with the left arm still in 
front, left wrist on right, and left palm turned back- 
ward, reach backward under the right wrist and 
with the left execute a lower back, behind left hip, 
3. Combine the work of right in (a) with the work 
of left in (b). 

6. Execute a lower front fountain, and for the 
right back waist arm over front, and the left lower 
back, substitute the hip tangle. 

7. With the trunk turned to right, execute forward 
follow circles continuing these circles as the clubs are 
gradually brought forward and to the left, the trunk 
also gradually covering front and then turning left 



52 



PART TWO 



also ; now arm-circle and it will be seen that instead 
of being a follow right movement it is a follow left. 

8. Over and under, (a) Hold the left club horiz- 
ontal and pointing directly forward about a foot in 
front of the body; with the right, starting from posi- 
tion, execute a forward circle on its own right side, 
I ; then, reaching over the left club execute a forward 
circle, this being naturally on the left side of the left 
arm, 3 ; just as this circle is completed, lead the elub 
under the left and execute another forward circle, this 
circle also being on the left side of the left club, 5. 
(b) Holding the right club horizontal and pointing 
forward about a foot in front of body, with left start- 
ing from position, execute a forward circle 2 ; reach 
over right, executing another forward circle, 4; reach 
under and execute another forward circle, 6. Com- 
bine the right hand work of (a) with the left hand 
work of (b) and the over and under in front of the 
body is the result. 

9. After being able to execute smoothly exercise 8, 
gradually turning trunk to the right bring the clubs 
to the right, so that the clubs will be moving in the 
lateral plane. This exercise thus brought from right 
to left will change the movement from a follow right 
to a follow left. 

10. Combine upper fountain, double tangle, over 
and under, lower fountain including hip tangle, and 
follow circles backward at left. 

Based on the material thus far stated, the combin- 
ations possible are indefinite in number. 



?art III. 

ADVANCED CLUB SWINGING, WITH 
THE SNAKES. 



PART III 



ADVA\XED CLUB SWIXGIXG, WITH THE 
SNAKES 

The snake movements are considered the most dif- 
ficult club movements and form the basis of much of 
the fancy work. These movements are called snakes 
on account of their fancied resemblance to a snake 
winding around the arm. There are four principal 
snakes : 

/. The outzvard, or regular stmke. 

II. The reverse, or inward snake. 

III. The forward hip snake. 

IV. The reverse, or backward hip snake. 

Combinations of these four with variations and 
additions form the many kinds of snakes in use. The 
combinations generally used will be given. 

The snakes are all executed with a special grip, 
which is held throughout the entire snake and only 
released at the throw off, the wrist doing the great- 
er part of the work. There are various snake grips 
used, but the one which seems most satisfactor}^ will 
be used in the work contained in these lessons and is 
as follows : The forefinger is placed over the ball or 

56 



PART THREE 



knob of the club; the other three fingers grasp the 
neck or handle ; the end of the thumb is placed on the 
knob and the ball of the thumb is pressed against the 
handle. Figs 34, 48, and 49 give a good idea of the 
grip. Another form of the snake grip used is to hold 
the club with the thumb and forefinger also on the 
neck, so that the club is held with the forefinger and 
thumb around the neck, and the ball is on the out- 
side of the ring formed by the thumb and forefinger. 



57 



LESSON I 



THE OUTWARD SNAKE. 

This snake is generally executed in two planes, the 
"horizontal and the vertical ; the following description 
is of the snake executed in the vertical plane. After 
completing an outward arm circle bend the arm 
slightly as the club comes over the head and catch 
the club in the snake grip, holding this grip firmly 
but not tightly until the throw off ; bend the wrist as 
in Fig. 31, allowing the club to swing behind the arm. 
The solid line in the illustrations of this snake in- 
dicates the course taken by the ends of the club, — 
either the base, or the handle, or both, as indicated,—- 
to arrive in the position shown in the next illustration. 
The broken line indicates the course it has taken from 
the preceding position to arrive at the one shown, 
and the dotted portions show course of club behin<^ 
body. (See page 54.) 

(a) Bring the base of the club upward, at the 
same time bringing down the wrist (Figs. 31, 32 and 
33), so that the club with the middle point of its long 
axis as a center, describes a half-circle. Continue the 
circle, exercising care that the club remains in front 
of the forearm, and as the hand passes from position 
:shownj in Fig. 34 to that in Fig. 35, gradually turn 

58 



PART THREE 



the palm forward, then outward, and the base and 
handle of the club will describe an entire circle. It 
will be noticed now that the club, instead of being 
on the back of the arm, as in Fig. 31, is on the front, 
and the palm is turned away from the face again. 

(b) Continue the movement as indicated in Figs. 
35> 36, 37, 38 and 39, and another circle will have 
been completed. 

(c) When the club comes to position as in Fig. 
39, throw base of club outward and release the snake 
grip, changing to ordinary grasp; the club will again 
be ready to proceed with an arm circle. This out- 
ward throw with change of grasp is known as the 
throw off. 

Summary, Twice during the snake one could eas- 
ily touch his nose with his forefinger if he cared to 
(Figs. 34 and 38). The first circle starts with the 
club on the back of the arm (Fig. 31), and the second 
with the club on the front (Fig. 35) ; the palm is 
outward at the beginning of each circle, (a) and (b). 
There are three distinct efforts, (a), (b), and (c), 
joined and executed smoothly. An effort should be 
made to hold the elbow exactly shoulder high through- 
out the entire snake, and to bring about the move- 
ment of the club by that part of the arm from the 
elbow down, the main work falling on the wrist. Note 
how the wrist is worked. (See page 54.) 

In the horizontal snake, as it is generally executed, 
the club starts as in Fig. 31, but instead of executing 



59 



CLUB SWINGING 



its two circles (a) and (b) in the vertical plane, it 
executes them in the horizontal plane, that is, the 
club is kept horizontal to the floor during their per- 
formance ; then, arriving as in Fig. 38, the ihrow 
off is executed in the vertical plane again, that is, 
sideways. The exercises following are executed in 
the vertical plane from side to side, unless differently 
stated. 

1. Double shoulder snake and double arm circle. 

2. Double shoulder snake with upper double 
fronts. 

3. Double shoulder snake, but instead of double 
arm circle as in exercise i, throw off and catch the 
club again, going into another double snake; repeat. 
This is the Continuous Snake. 

4. Double shoulder snake, double arm circle, and 
scissors. 

5. Double shoulder snakes and scissors. 

6. Double arm circle, double shoulder snakes, 
double arm circles twice, and double shoulder circle. 

7. Alternate movement, shoulder snakes and arm 
circles ; that is, right shoulder snake i ; right arm cir- 
cle, 2 ; left arm circle, i ; left shoulder snake, 2. 

8. Alternate movement, shoulder snakes and up- 
per fronts. 

9. Continuous shoulder snakes; all movements. 

10. Same as exercise 9, but occasionally add an 
arm circle. 



60 



LESSON II. 



OUTWARD HALF SNAKES. 

1. See Lesson I (a). Execute first circle of snake 
and throw off from position, as in Fig. 34. This is 
known as the first half snake. 

2. As in the regular snake, after an arm circle, 
let the club fall into the snake grip, bending wrist; 
but in this case allow the club to fall on the front 
of the arm. Fig. 35, and then execute the second 
circle of the snake and throw off as in Lesson I, (b) 
and (c). This is known as the second half snake, 

3. Double arm circle, double first half snake. 

4. Double arm circle, double second half snake. 

5. Alternate exercises 3 and 4. 

6. Double movement, first half snake; arm circle, 
second half snake; arm circle and shoulder snake. 

These half snakes may be executed horizontally 
also. 



61 



LESSOlSl III. 



PERPENDICULAR SNAKE OUTWARD. 

Throw into snake grip, as shown in Fig. 31; but 
instead of making the circle shoulder high, as shown 
in Figs. 31, 32, 33, and 34, start circling and draw 
the club downward a little below the waist, circling 
as shown in Figs. 31, 32, and 33. Its position, in- 
stead of being as in Fig. 34, will be as shown in Fig. 
54. Next bring the club around back of arm by 
describing a half circle with its base, handle as cen- 
ter of circle, to position shown in Fig. 53, then to 
position, shown in Fig. 56; draw the club upward 
and outward and it will be in position shown in Fig. 
38; bring club to position shown in Fig. 39 and 
throw off. The upward pull is already begun when 
the club arrives in position shown in Fig. 54. Try 
to make the club travel up and down in a line per- 
pendicular to the floor. 

The exercises of Lesson I apply to this snake also. 



62 



LESSON IV. 



THE FORWARD HIP SNAKE. 

Outward movement from position. (a) Swing^ 
the club downward and behind the hip; allow the 
club to swing as though executing a lower back circle,- 
letting it swing into the snake grip. (Fig. 47 shows 
the club going behind the hip, and Fig. 40 shows the 
course, looking from behind, taken by the club to 
reach the snake grip; and also how the snake grip 
looks when taken). In the illustrations used to ex- 
plain the forward hip snake the solid lines indicate 
the course the club takes to arrive at the next posi- 
tion illustrated; and the broken lines show the 
course the club has taken from the preceding illus- 
tration to arrive at the position held, dotted lines 
showing the course behind any part of the body. 

(b) Fig. 41 shows the club held in the snake 
grip as seen from the front. Bring it forward (Figs. 
42 and 43), keeping it close to the hip, and horizon- 
tal to the floor, until it arrives at position shown in 
Fig. 43. (See page 66.) 

(c) Extend the wrist, and let the club move out- 
ward and downward (Figs. 43 and 44), and relax 
the snake grip (Figs. 44 45, and 46) and let the club 

63 



CLUB SWINGING 



-describe a lower front circle; thus leaving the club 
ready for another movement. 

Practice (a), (b), and (c) until execution is 
smooth and continuous. In (b) the club is kept close 
to the body, while (c) is the throw off. 

1. Double hip snake. In coming forward as in 
(b), the clubs may either be crossed or held far 
-enough apart so as not to overlap on their upward 
course ; and the same is true in the lower front circle 
of the throw off. Fig. 59 shows how the clubs in a 
lower front cross each other. 

2. Double shoulder snake, throwing off and com- 
ing down into double hip snake. 

3. Alternate hip snakes. These are used more 
than the double hip snakes. 

4. Double hip snake combined with double lower 
fronts. 

5. Combination. With right execute a shoulder 
«nake and with left a hip snake; then with left exe- 
cute a shoulder snake, and with right a hip snake; 
continue. 

6. Alternate shoulder snakes; follow at once with 
-alternate hip snakes, come up to alternate shoulder 
-snakes, then down to hip snakes, etc. Continue. 

7. From position, start double outward arm cir- 
cle; swing the left behind the body, and with it exe- 
cute a front waist arm-over-back circle ; and having 
completed this circle, with the left hand still in posi- 
ttion behind the body, let the club fall into the snake 



64 



PART THREE 



grip ; then, recrossing the body in back, execute a 
hip snake, throwing off, coming up to and executing 
a shoulder circle. Meanwhile the right has com- 
pleted its arm circle, a shoulder snake, and a shoulder 
circle. 

8. Execute the above with the work of the left 
given to the right, and the right work given to the 
left; as in Exercise 7. 

9. Combine exercises 7 and 8, omitting the 
shoulder circles. 

10. With one club alone execute a hip snake, but 
do not throw off. Instead, as club comes to position 
shown in Fig. 43, let it change slowly to position 
shown in Fig. 44 ; then, coming around back of arm 
until it reaches position shown in Fig. 53, draw the 
club upward (Fig. 56) until it is on the shoulder 
(Fig. 38) ; throw off and catch, executing a shoul- 
der snake. 

11. Execute exercise 10, double. 



65 



LESSON V. 



FORWARD HIP SPIRAL. 

Outward Movement: (a) Starting from position 
shown in Fig. 43, extend the wrist, and the base of 
the club will follow the course indicated by the solid 
line. When it arrives at position shown in Fig. 48, 
the long axis of the club follows course indicated by 
the solid line, indicating circle. It will be seen 
that the club has executed a lower front circle, 
with the club held in the snake grip; the second 
part is a lower back executed with the snake grip, 
as follows, (b) Continue the club backward as 
shown in the dotted and solid line, indicating circle 
(Fig. 49), describing a circle behind the hip, with 
club held in snake grip, and coming forward as in 
Fig. 42, to the position show' n in Fig. 43 ; thus exe- 
cuting the last half of the spiral. 

The term draw spiral will be used for the follow- 
ing work, first, because of its resemblance to the spiral 
and because it embraces the draw; secondly, because 
the use of the term in explaining combinations will 
help greatly in making matters easily understood, 
(a) Start a spiral, and as the club comes to posi- 
tion shown in Fig. 49, with the wrist as the center 
of the half circle to be described, (b), swing the club 

68 



PART THREE 



around outward in front of the arm, in a horizontal 
plane. (Fig. 52, broken line, shows the course taken 
by club, and the final position after executing the 
half circle), (c) Continuous with this half circle 
draw the club behind the hip, (Fig. 55 shows the 
draw from behind) ; continue the circle, the handle 
leading, backward, outward, and forward in a hori- 
zontal plane. (The broken line in Fig. 54 shows the 
course the club has taken in executing this lower 
back circle in the horizontal plane with the snake 
grip and the handle leading), (d) Now, with the 
wrist as the center of the hand circle to be described, 
swing the club around in front of the arm, as shown 
by the solid line in Fig. 54, and the club will be in 
the starting position, (Fig. 43). 



69 



LESSON VI. 



TRAVELING SNAKES. 

Rope snake. Start regular shoulder snake, and 
execute the first circle. (The club is now in position 
shown in Fig. 35). Gradually draw hand downward 
as the club is executing the work shown in Figs. 35, 
36, and 37, and naturally the position instead of be- 
ing like that shown in Fig. 37 will be as shown in 
Fig. 50. Continue to draw behind the hip; (Fig. 55 
shows how it appears from behind). There it becomes 
for a while the draw spiral, that is, draw backward 
and outward, the handle leading, then forward, in 
a horizontal plane ; the broken line of Fig. 54 shows 
the course the club takes in executing this backward, 
outward, and forward motion, (horizontal lower back 
circle), with the handle leading and the long axis of 
the club following the line described. In Fig. 54, 
solid line, the club is swung around the front of the 
arm with the wrist, the center of the half-circle just 
executed, and the club will be in position shown in 
Fig. 43. Start to spiral; that is, extend the wrist, 
(see solid line in Fig. 43), and when the club occu- 
pies position shown in Fig. 48 the long axis of the 
club follows the course indicated by the solid line. 
Execute thus a lower front circle with the club held 
in the snake grip and the long axis of the club fol- 

70 



PART THREE 



lowing the circle described. The club will now be 
in position shown in Fig. 49; the movement becomes 
a part of the perpendicular snake; that is, draw up- 
ward, (Figs. 53, 56) to position shown in Fig. 38, 
and throw off. The various parts must be joined 
into one continuous movement, which requires long 
practice. 

1. Double rope snake. 

2. Starting simultaneously with both clubs, exe- 
cute with the right a shoulder snake, and continue 
to execute rope snakes; with the left start at once 
continuous rope snakes. In executing the shoulder 
snake first, and then continuing the rope snakes, it 
will be seen that as the right starts the first rope 
snake the left is already executing the draw part of 
the rope snake; when the right begins to execute the 
draw part the left will already have completed one 
rope snake and is beginning a second. Briefly, the 
right is going down when the left is coming up, and 
vice-versa. This is the alternate rope snake. 

3. To get back to the double rope snake, simply 
add, with either club, a shoulder snake to the rope 
snake ; and the double movement is the result. 

4. Rope snake with roll around head. Execute 
rope snake until ready to throw off; but instead of 
throwing off sweep the club around front of the arm 
in a half-circle, forward and outward, by turning the 
palm forward and outward ; that is, from position 
shown in Fig. 39 to position shown in Fig. 31 ; roll 
club backward, turning palm up ; continue circle in 



71 



CLUB SWINGING 



horizontal plane. (In Fig. 57, solid line with arrows 
shows course club takes). As club is coming for- 
ward (solid line in Fig. 58 shows course club takes, 
and the broken line the space already covered) turn 
the palm forward and downward ; and the club has 
rolled into the ring grip (Fig. 58). Continuing, the 
club again arrives at the starting position (Fig. 31). 
Practice with each hand. 

5. Double rope snake with roll around head. 

6. Alternate rope snakes with rolls around head. 

7. Execute movements shown in Figs. 30, 31, 32, 
33, and 34, gradually bringing the hand downward. 
Start with the movement in Fig. 32 ; continue the 
downward motion while executing movements in Figs, 
33 and 34; bring club to position shown in Fig. 49, 
and execute that part of the spiral, the lower back 
circle with the snake grip (indicated by dotted line 
in this figure) ; and as the club comes forward to po- 
sition shown in Fig. 43, throw off ; at the same time 
drawing the hand upward, throwing the club quickly 
into the snake grip above, and executing the first 
half of the shoulder snake. Throw off and begin 
movement again. This traveling snake, which is very 
easy after a little practice, is often substituted for the 
rope snakes, and is most effective in the double move- 
ment. It is known as the counterfeit snake. 

8. Execute the double counterfeit snake with roll 
around head, no throw off above. (See rope snake 
with roll, exercise 4.) 

9. Execute the double counterfeit snake, adding 
an extra first half snake. 



72 



LESSON VII. 



THE INWARD SHOULDER SNAKE. 

Reverse snake. Execute an inward arm circle, let-- 
ting club swing inward and downward behind shoul- 
der, as though executing an inward shoulder circle; 
but catch the club in the snake grip (Fig. 39). The 
longer solid curve indicates the course followed by 
the club to reach the position, the broken line indi- 
cates the direction the hand is to move to arrive at 
the next position. The shorter solid line indicates 
the previous motion of the hand to arrive at this po- 
sition; the broken line will have the same signifi- 
cance in the following illustrations in regard to the 
hand and end of the club, and the solid curved line will 
indicate the direction and course the club and hand- 
have taken to arrive at the position shown. Execute 
movements as shown in Figs. 38, 37, 36, 35 ; turn palm 
forward and inward as the hand travels to positioa 
in Fig. 34 ; proceed as in Figs. 33 and 32. As position 
in Fig. 31 is taken, extend the wrist and at the same 
time give a vigorous throw upward, the throw off, 
and lead club across over head, ready for an arm 
circle. To summarize, the club executes two circles, 
inward, and a throw off, and begins each of these 
circles with the palm turned inward; thus the move- 

73 



CLUB SWINGING 



ment as a whole is the reverse, as the name indicates, 
oi the regular shoulder snake. 

Inward Movements. 

1. Double arm circle and double shoulder snake, 
continuous. 

2. Double upper front and double shoulder snake, 
then double arm circle, continuous. 

3. Double shoulder snake, and, after throw off, 
-catch in snake grip and execute shoulder snake again, 
t:ontinuous. 

4. Double shoulder snake, double arm circle, 
double shoulder circle, arm circle twice, and double 
shoulder circle, continuous. 

The inward shoulder snake executed in the alter- 
nate movement does not make as pretty a display as 
in the double. 

5. Alternate movement shoulder snakes and arm 
circles. 

6. Alternate movement shoulder snakes and up- 
per fronts. 

7. Continuous alternate shoulder snakes. 




LESSON VIIL 



THE REVERSE PERPENDICULAR SNAKE. 

Same as the reverse shoulder snake except that the 
club travels up and down. Start the reverse shoul- 
der snake (Fig. 39), and as the hand and club circle 
inward, draw the hand down to position shown in 
Fig. 56 and circle the club around back of arm ; Fig. 
53 shows how wrist must be slightly extended to al- 
low the club to pass backward (the broken and 
solid lines having nothing to do with this movement). 
Continue this movement around back and the club 
will arrive at position shov/n in Fig. 54 (the broken 
and solid lines having nothing to do with this move- 
ment). Now continue the motion of the club by 
circling forward and inward, at the same time draw- 
ing the hand upward, and the club will be in posi- 
tion shown in Fig. 33. Continue the movement of 
the club by assuming position shown in Fig. 32 and 
throw off directly upward. The club will then be in 
position for some other movement. 

Inward Movements. 

1. Double arm circle, double perpendicular snake, 
continuous. 

2. Continuous double perpendicular snake. 

3. Double perpendicular snakes, double arm circle, 
double arm circle twice, double shoulder circle. 

75 



CLUB SWINGING 



4. Alternate perpendicular snakes; continuous. 

5. Alternate movement, perpendicular snake, and 
reverse roll around head. 

6. Same as exercise 5, but double instead of alter- 
nate. 

7. Execute a draw spiral (see Lesson VI) ; and, 
as club is drawn the second time, instead of contin- 
uing draw behind hip, execute the reverse perpen- 
dicular snake up the arms and throw off ; that is, from 
the draw position circle the club forward and in- 
ward, at the same time drawing club upward to po- 
sition shown in Fig. 33, then to position shown in 
Fig. 32, and throw off. This is the reverse rope 
snake. 

8. Execute this exercise in the double movement.^ 
Also alternate. 

9. To exercise 8, add the reverse roll around head. 

10. The inward half snakes are executed similarly 
to the outward half snakes. For the inward first half 
snake execute the first circle of the inward shoulder 
snake and throw off. 

11. For the inward second half snake; from an 
arm circle throw club into position shown in Fig. 34 ; 
that is, allow the club to continue the motion inward 
from the arm circle as though about to execute an 
inward hand circle in front of the shoulder, and catch- 
ing the club in the snake grip, continue the second 
circle of the shoulder snake and throw off. 

12. Double arm circle and double first half snake; 
continuous. 

76 



CLUB SWINGING 



13. Double arm circle and double second half 
snake; continuous. 

14. Execute exercises 12 and 13 alternately. 

15. Double arm circle, double first half snake, 
double arm circle, double second half snake; double 
arm circle twice, double shoulder snake, double arm 
circle and double shoulder circle. 

16. Swinging in the outward movement, execute 
a shoulder circle left and arm circle with the right 
side to shoulder high at left side, at the same time 
turning trunk to left ; then execute a regular shoul- 
der snake with the left and a reverse with the right, 
turning trunk from right to left in one continuous 
movement. Execute a right shoulder circle and a 
left arm circle to shoulder high at right side ; then 
the right executes a regular shoulder snake and the 
left a reverse shoulder snake. Repeat the exercise. 




77 



LESSON IX. 



INWARD OR REVERSE HIP SNAKE. 

The illustrations used for the forward hip snake, 
if taken in reverse order, with the solid lines used to 
indicate the course the club has traveled to arrive 
at the position shown, and the broken line to indicate 
the course the club is to follow to arrive at the next 
position, will give the correct result. This snake is, 
as its name indicates, the reverse of the regular for- 
ward snake. 

Hold the club as shown in Fig. 46, let it follow 
the course indicated by the broken line, and it will 
arrive at position shown in Fig. 45; (see broken line 
in this and each of the succeeding illustrations). Figs. 
44 and 43 show the part of the movement known as 
tumbling the club. Continue as in Fig. 42 and 41 
(Fig. 40 shows this position from behind) ; quickly 
extend the wrist, or throw off ; and the club will take 
the course shown by the solid line to position shown 
in Fig. 47; continue movement along the course as 
shown by the broken line, and the club will have 
returned to the starting position. 

In the tumble the club simply falls downward and 
at the same time the hand gives a slight jerk upward 
(Fig. 45), then a little push outward (Fig. 44), so 

78 



PART THREE 



that the force of these combined efforts will tumble 
the club into position shown in Fig. 43. Care should 
be exercised that the club is kept close to the body- 
as it travels backward and behind the hip (Figs. 43, 42 
and 41). The grip is changed, after the throw off^ 
from the snake grip to the ordinary grasp. 

To execute the double reverse hip snake in tum- 
bling the clubs, they are crossed in front of the body,, 
and in the throw off they are crossed in back of the 
body. They can, of course, be held far enough apart 
so that they do not cross, but the movement is not so 
pleasing as when they are crossed. 

Inward Movements. 

1. Double lower front circle and double hip 
snake, continuous. 

2. Add to exercise i the double shoulder snake. 

3. Alternate hip snakes; these are used more than 
the double. 

4. With the left execute a lower front circle and 
a hip snake ; with the right a shoulder snake and then 
a shoulder circle; next with the right execute lower 
front, followed by hip snake, and with the left a 
shoulder snake and then a shoulder circle. 

5. Alternate hip snakes, followed at once with al- 
ternate shoulder snakes, continuous. 

6. The inward half snakes may be added to the 
inward movement just as the outward half snakes are 
combined with the outward movement. 



79 



CLUB SWINGING 



7. Catch the club in the snake grip just as if about 
to execute a regular inward shoulder snake; now 
sweep the club, with its long axis following the course 
indicated by the solid line, the handle leading (from 
I to 2, Fig. 68). Continue the sweep as indicated 
from 2 to 3, where it becomes a regular reverse hip 
snake, and throw off the club behind the hip. Count 
slowly; I, catching the club in the snake grip; 2, 
as the club sweeps outward; 3, as it passes in front 
of the hip; and 4, on the throw off. These points 
are marked in Fig. 68 ; 4 is executed behind the 
body. Count slowly, allowing as much time for 
each count as it takes to execute an entire arm cir- 
cle. The clubs cross twice in front and once behind 
the body. If this movement is executed smoothly 
and correctly it cannot be surpassed for an effective 
and pleasing movement in fancy club swinging, as 
the long easy sweep forms a fascinating figure. 

8. The regular inward shoulder snake also is exe- 
cuted in the same rhythm as exercise 7, and the circles 
should be made in long and easy sweeps. In the first 
circle the club should sweep almost as low as the 
waist. 



80 



LESSON X. 



PARALLEL MOVEMENTS. 

The movements are all described as going parallel 
right. It is obvious that the right is working in the 
outward movement and the left in the inward. The 
term ''parallel" will be used when the movement is 
parallel from beginning to end; but, for instance, 
where one club is executing shoulder work and the 
other lower front work the term "parallel" movements 
will not be used. The work of each club is desig- 
nated separately. 

1. Parallel shoulder snakes and arm circles. 

2. Parallel shoulder snakes and upper fronts. 

3. Execute parallel arm circles. After this is com- 
pleted, the left executes a shoulder snake, while the 
right executes shoulder circle and arm circle; then 
the left executes arm circle while the right executes 
a shoulder snake ; then the left executes a shoulder 
snake while the right executes an arm circle. Con- 
tinue. 

4. Right executes a forward hip snake and a lower 
front while left executes a lower front and a reverse 
hip snake. This is the shift (Part II, Lesson II, exer- 
cise 11) with the snakes added. 

5. Combine parallel shoulder snakes with exercise 

4- 

81 



CLUB SWINGING 



6. Parallel shoulder snakes; then turn trunk right 
and execute parallel circles forward at shoulder 
height; then, turning front again, execute exercise 4; 
turn trunk to the left, executing parallel circles back- 
ward at shoulder height; turn front again; repeat 
exercise. 

7. Start both clubs from position simultaneously, 
(a) Left, instead of completing arm circle, executes 
a front waist arm-over-back; and just as the club 
comes out from behind the body to the front of the left 
hip, tumble the club, executing a reverse hip snake; 
swing up, and execute a shoulder circle. The right, 
meanwhile, completes its arm circle, executes a shoul- 
der circle, then a shoulder snake, an arm circle, and 
a shoulder circle. Continue. 

8. (b) Left executes arm circle, a shoulder snake, 
and a shoulder circle, while the right executes a front 
waist arm-over-back circle, and as the club has com- 
pleted this circle, it falls into the snake grip behind 
the body and is brought forward, executing a forward 
hip snake ; it is then thrown off, and coming up, exe- 
cutes a shoulder circle. 

9. Combine exercises 7 and 8. 

10. To exercise 9, add parallel arm circles, paral- 
lel shoulder snake, and parallel arm circles. 

11. See Lesson IX, exercise 7. The left executes 
the same work as in this exercise, while the right 
starts an outward shoulder snake, and in so doing 
sweeps around in a circle parallel to that executed by 



83 



PART THREE 



the left, continuing this parallel movement the right 
is drawn behind the hip, and executes the lower 
back circle of the draw spiral. As the club comes to 
position shown in Fig. 54, the snake grip is relaxed, 
the club swings downward, and the movement is 
completed. This movement can be improved if a 
lower back circle is added to the left and a lower 
front to the right. 

The rhythm is the same in this exercise as in Les- 
son IX, Exercise 7. Both clubs, after the snake grip 
is obtained, move with the long axis of the club, han- 
dle leading, in the lines they are describing, until they 
reach the point where the left throws of? and the 
right relaxes its snake grip. 

Practice all the above movements parallel left also. 



83 



LESSON XL 



REVERSE SPIRAL AND THE FOLLOWS. 

Hold the club as in Fig. 49, with the handle lead- 
ing and the long axis of the club in the circumfer- 
ence of the circle to be described. Follow the course 
indicated by the broken line, thus executing a lower 
front circle with the club held in the snake grip. The 
club, now held as in Fig. 43, travels behind hip (brok- 
en lines, Fig. 42), arrives at position shown in Fig. 41, 
executes a lower back circle, with the club still in 
the snake grip, and comes to position shown in Fig. 
49, ready for another exercise. This is known as 
the reverse spiral. 

Follow Movements. 

The movements to be described are follows to the 
right; that is, the right club working in the outward 
and the left in the inward movement. 

1. Follow arm circles and shoulder snakes. 

2. Follow shift with snakes added, that is, the 
left executes lower front and then the reverse hip 
snake and the right executes a hip snake and lower 
front afterward. 

3. Combine shoulder snakes with exercise 2. 

4. See Lesson X, Exercise 6; execute same in fol- 
low time. 



84 



PART THREE 



5. Execute the follow shift, and instead of bring- 
ing the left club front leave it behind the body and 
execute the front waist arm-over-back circle, which 
is the second circle of the lower back fountain. Con- 
tinue the lower back fountain. 

6. Execute a right lower back, i, left back waist 
arm-over-back; 2, lower front right; 3, and left front 
waist arm-over-back. Substitute the hip snake for- 
ward for I and 3. 

7. Same as exercise 6, but substitute forward hip 
spirals instead of hip snake. 

8. Same as exercise 7, but substitute draw spirals 
instead of spirals. 

9. Same as exercise 6, but after executing the hip 
snake as stated, execute two spirals and two draw 
spirals, and continue the circles with the left at the 
same time. 

10. Continuing the circles with the left, as in ex- 
ercise 6, with the right execute a hip snake, throwing 
off ; and follow it with a shoulder snake, then come 
down again into a hip snake, etc. 

11. Same as exercise 10, continuing circles with 
left; but with right execute a hip snake, spiral, draw 
spiral and throw off; run up into shoulder snake and 
come down again; execute hip snake; then with both 
execute the lower back fountain. This may be varied 
by executing the fountain first and then the hip snake, 
spiral, etc. 

12. Lower fountain front, lower back fountain; 
continue circles with left, then with right hip circle, 

85 



CLUB SWINGING 



draw spiral, throw off and shoulder snake coming 
down, lower back fountain, etc. 

13. Lower back fountain, come back again, and 
continuing circles with left execute two spirals ; then 
fountain across to left side; and as left club (see Fig. 
24) comes to A, tumble it into a reverse spiral, exe- 
cuting two reverse spirals ; with the right continue 
the circles in front and back of left hip. 

This spiral fountain is especially attractive and 
pleasing, as, from the front, it looks as though the 
club were continually spiraling from right to left and 
left to right. 

14. A very pleasing traveling movement and a 
good way to change from parallel right to parallel 
left and vice versa. Same as exercise 10; but on 
coming down, instead of hip snake, with the right pass 
over and execute front and back waist arm-over-back 
circles continuously. With the left (see Fig. 22) as the 
club is coming behind hip, palm turns downward, takes 
snake grip, and pulls club over to the left; executes 
forward hip snake, spiral, draw spiral, throwing off 
and going up to shoulder snake, then comes down 
again, and both clubs are ready to pass once more to 
the other side. Continue movement. 

15. Follow shoulder snakes; turning trunk to 
right, follow circles and forward (shoulder) snakes, 
turning trunk forward, follow shift with snakes add- 
ed; turning trunk left, backward (reverse) snakes 
and follow circles; repeat. 

This exercise may be executed in the parallel move- 
ment also. 

8G 



Part IV. 

EXERCISES FOR CLASS WORK. 



X 



X 




PART IV. 



EXERCISES FOR CLASS WORK. 

The following exercises, with few exceptions, are 
modeled mainly like those of Part I, for class work, 
while those of Parts II and III have been modeled 
more for individual execution. The former are bet- 
ter for class, the latter for individual, exhibitions. 

The exercises of this part, as stated previously, are 
of the class where the motion of the club is not con- 
tinuous; that is, where the club is first swung in one 
direction, then makes a momentary stop and swings 
in another direction, etc. The following exercises, 
unlike those given in the other lessons, are executed: 
not only in one vertical plane which corresponds to 
the lateral plane of the body, but in different vertical 
planes; that is, planes intersecting the lateral at right 
and other angles. Exercises executed in the horizon- 
tal plane are also included. In addition, the exercises 
include movements of various parts of the body, such- 
as trunk turning, bending to right and left, stepping 
and changing, etc. 

LESSON I. 
CIRCLES. 

The three-quarter-circle is what its name implies,, 
three-fourths of a circle. 

To execute a double inward three-quarter circle,, 

89 



CLUB SWINGING 



start from position and proceed as though for an in- 
ward heart-shaped circle; but when the clubs are ris- 
ing, after having crossed below, check the motion 
Avhen the clubs are shoulder high; count i. (Fig. 60 
shows the start and the clubs at shoulder height). 

The return from this to the starting position is 
accomplished by retracing the course just covered; 
the effort from shoulder high to ''x" (Fig. 60) is 
count 2 ; and coming down to position from "x" is 
count 3. 

In executing this exercise extend the arms well, 
reaching out as far as possible, and in completing and 
T)eginning another exercise let the movement, (Fig. 
60) from ''x" to position and back again to "x" be 
executed v.'ith a bound. This bound prepares the way 
for shoulder circles later on, and is used in ending 
and beginning all three-quarter-circle exercises. 

To execute a double outward three-quarter circle 
and return to position (see Fig. 61), follow course 
indicated, clubs shoulder high, elbows also brought up 
shoulder high, count i, returning, 2, position, 3. 

To execute a three-quarter-parallel-circle and re- 
turn to position, start from position and proceed as 
though for the parallel heart-shaped circle, but bring 
the clubs, in going parallel right, only shoulder high 
on the left side, i ; and the left will be in position 
shown as left in Fig. 60, and the right in position 
shown as right in Fig. 61 ; returning, 2, position, 3. 

I. Double three quarter arm circle outward, i, re- 
turning 2, position, 3. 

90 



PART FOUR 



2. Double three quarter arm circle inward, i, re- 
turning, 2, position, 3. 

3. Parallel right three quarter arm circle, i, re- 
turning, 2, position, 3. All the parallel movements 
in this part are described as though starting parallel 
right. 

Tipping or the slap. In executing three quarter 
circles, when the club has risen shoulder high, allow 
it to swing in a half circle, rest momentarily on the 
arm, and swing back again. The solid line in Fig. 60 
indicates the course followed by the club from "b" 
to "c" and back again to "b" in executing the slap or 
tipping. The club in tipping is returned with a bound 
so that the movement to the arm and back again 
counts only one. 

4. Double three quarter arm circle outward, i, 
tipping, 2, returning, 3, position, 4. 

5. Same as in exercise 4, but on count 2 quickly 
bend and straighten the knees (executing a slight 
squat) to correspond with the time of the tipping. 

6. Same as exercise 4, but on 2 add a quick step 
forward, Vvith right or left, and return. This must 
be executed with a spring so as to correspond with 
the tipping. 

7. Double three-quarter arm circle inward, i, w^ith 
tipping, 2, returning, 3, position, 4. 

8. Same leg work as in exercises 5 and 6 may be 
added to exercise 7. 

9. Parallel three-quarter arm circle, I, tipping, 2, 
returning, 3, position 4. 

91 



CLUB SWINGING 



10. To exercise 9, add following leg work; on i, 
charge the left foot sideways left, returning to position 
on 3. 

11. To exercise 9 add the following leg work; 
with left foot step sideways left, stride stand, i, cross 
right over left in front, cross stand, 2, return to stride 
stand, 3, position, 4. 

12. Same as exercise 11, but instead of crossing 
right over in front cross it over back of left, 2, and 
return, 3. 

13. Perform alternately exercises i and 2; con- 
tinue to alternate 24 counts. 

14. Preform alternately exercises 4 and 7; 24 
counts. 

15. Perform alternately exercises 5 and 6; 24 
counts. 

16. Perform alternately exercises 6 and 7; 24 
counts. 

17. Perform alternately exercise 3, and same ex- 
ercise parallel left ; alternatin gcontinuously 24 counts. 

18. Perform alternately exercise 9 and same ex- 
ercise parallel left; 24 counts. 

19. Perform alternately exercise 10 and same ex- 
ercise parallel left; 24 counts. 

20. Perform alternately exercise 11 and same ex- 
ercise parallel left; 24 counts. 

21. Perform alternately exercise 12 and same ex- 
ercise parallel left; 24 counts. 

22. Parallel three quarter circle, turning trunk 

92 



PART FOUR 



left. In this case the right arm remains straight in- 
stead of being bent as in exericse 3. 

23. Add tipping and leg work to exercise 22 ; also 
alternate with same exercise left. 

24. Parallel three quarter circle with turning of 
trunk to left, i, clubs held firmly (Fig. 62) ; instead of 
tipping as in the other exercises, bring the clubs be- 
hind the shoulders and return with a snap, 2; return- 
ing with trunk turning front, 3 ; position, 4. 




25. Same as exercise 24, but add following leg 
work; change left foot sideways left, I, position, 3. 

26. Same as exercise 24, with leg work as in ex- 
ercise II and 12. 

27. Alternate the same exercise parallel left, with 
exercises 24, 25, and 26. 

93 



CLUB SWINGING 



28. In the parallel exercises, in alternating with 
the same exercises, parallel left, as in exercise 17, on 
count 3, instead of the bound down to position, sub- 
stitute a hand circle. The exercise will then be: — 
parallel three quarter arm circle, i ; returning, 2 ; 
parallel left shoulder circles, 3; parallel left three 
quarter arm circles, 4 ; returning, 5 ; parallel right 
shoulder circles, 6; continue 24 counts. 

29. Substitute this shoulder circle instead of bound 
in exercises 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 27. 

30. Parallel three quarter arm circles, the left ex- 
ecuting the three quarter circle in the ordinary way 
but the right swinging behind the body as in Fig. 63. 

31. Same exercise as 30, but change the right foot 
sideways right and bend body sideways right; this 
will naturally point the clubs obliquely upward. 




94 



LESSON 11. 



PENDULUMS. 

A pendulum, as the name sugests, is a swinging ta 
and fro, that is, from side to side, and usually from 
shoulder high to shoulder high, but it may be swung 
forward and backward, with the arc described more 
or less than a half circle. A pendulum may be exe- 
cuted with the whole arm or from the elbow down; 
in fact, any way that brings about a back-and-forth 
motion. 

1. Hold the right club shoulder high, arm extended 
as in Fig. 60 "b," and the left also at shoulder high 
(Fig. 61 "a.") Arm circle, I, that is, execute a pendu- 
lum swing from shoulder high at right to shoulder 
high at left ; the right will be as right is shown in Fig. 
61 and the left as shown in Fig. 60. Pendulum, i. e.,. 
swing back and forth, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2. This is the paral- 
lel pendulum. 

2. Same as exercise i, with tipping, i, 2, 3, 4. 

3. Same as exercise 2, but add leg work, — side 
step left on i, bring right foot to side of left and 
quickly bend and straighten knees, 2, step to right 
with right, 3, bring left to side of right and quickly 
bend and straighten knees, 4. 

4. Parallel pendulum from right to left and left 

95 



CLUB SWINGING 



to right as in exercise i, but turn trunk right. In 
this movement both arms remain straight through- 
out entire exercise. 

5. Same as exercise 4 with tipping. 

6. Parallel pendulum from right to left, i, execute 
backward hand circles, 2, pendulum to right, 3, back- 
ward hand circles, 4 ; continue. When the club arrives 
at left, shoulder high, it is only necessary to allow 
the club to fall inward toward body as though tip- 
ping, but instead continue the hand circle. 

These hand circles should be executed first on the 
outside of the arms and then on the inside (between 
the arms), continuing to alternate. 

7. Same as exercise 6, but execute forward cir- 
cles on 2 and 4; that is, the club stops at left, shoul- 
der high, executes a forward circle, 2; and same for 
the other side. Execute circles inside and outside as 
in exercise 6. 

8. Starting at right side as for regular parallel 
pendulum, the left swings to left, shoulder high, and 
the right swings behind the body to arm-over-back 
position (Fig. 63), i, return, 2. 

9. Same as exercise 8, but start with i and 2, 
then pendulum to left side, 3, execute count i, and 2; 
but reverse direction for 4 and 5, etc. 

10. With right arm extended, shoulder high, left 
in arm-cross-back position, execute with left a front 
waist circle, inward movement; and with right hand 
circle, i, swing left to left, shoulder high, and right 

96 



PART FOUR 



arm-over-back ; execute hand circles, 3, swing to the 
right, shoulder high with right, and left to arm-over- 
back; continue. 

11. Right extended, shoulder high, left arm-over- 
back position; with the left execute a front waist cir- 
cle, I (inward movement), swing to left, shoulder 
high, 2; right swings downward (outward movement) 
and executes a lower back circle and comes to arm- 
over-back position, I, 2. Left swings downward 
(outward movement), executes a lower back circle, 
and comes to arm-over-back position, 3, 4, while right 
executes a front waist (inward movement) and pro- 
ceeds to shoulder high at right, 3, 4. 

12. Hold clubs in position at shoulder high, as 
shown in Fig. 60 "a" and "b." Pendulum to shoul- 
der high position, as shown in Fig. 61 "a" and "b;" 
back again, etc. 

13. With the right execute three quarter inward 
arm circle with tipping, i, 2; same with left, 3, 4 ; in 
this exercise the club, instead of bounding back at 
once, rests on the forearm, 2 and 4; snap the clubs 
downward off the forearms, in the outward move- 
ment (and up to position shown in Fig. 61 *'a" and 
"b"), 5; return inward, double three quarter arm cir- 
cle, 6, hand circle inward, 7, position, 8. 

14. Reverse of above. Three quarter outward 
right, bringing arm in position shown in Fig. 61 "h," 
I, tipping, 2, left three quarter arm circle, 3, tipping, 
4 ; swing from here to the position with arms at sides 

97 



CLUB SWINGING 



shoulder high (Fig. 60 "a" and ''b"), 5, double three 
quarter arm circle, outward movement, 6, outward 
shoulder circle, 7, position, 8. 

15. Right three quarter arm circle, i ; tip to rest 
on forearm, 2; right in back, left in front (Fig. 63) ; 
left three quarter circle, 3 ; tip on forearm, 4 ; swing 
both clubs to shoulder high at right side, with right 
in position shown as right in Fig. 60 "b," and left in 
position shown as left in Fig. 61 "a," 5. Return with 
parallel three quarter circle right, 6; parallel shoulder 
circle right; 7; position, 8. 




S8 



LESSON III. 



PENDULUMS (Concluded). 

1. With the right execute a bent or short arm 
swing (Fig. 64 "a" to "b," broken line), I, swing- 
arm-circle from *'b" to '*a/' solid line, 2 ; with left 
arm swing from *'c" to *'d," (solid line), i, and exe- 
cute bent arm swing from "d" to ''c," (broken line), 
2. In executing the bent arm swings, the club 
passes behind the head. 

2. Execute a bent arm swing from "b" to "a" 
with right, i ; and arm swing from ''a" to "b," 2 ; 
with left, arm swing from *'d" to "c," i ; and bent arm 
swing from "c" to ''d." This exercise is the reverse 
of the above. 

3. With right club execute an inward arm circle, 
I, and proceed as though about to execute a shoulder 
circle, but as the club comes behind the shoulder reach 
toward the right so that the club will follow course 
marked by solid line. Fig. 65; now swing downward 
from "a" and the club is executing an outward arm 
circle, 2. This is known as the Pass. 

4. With left club execute an outward arm circle, 
I, and proceed as though about to execute a shoul- 
der circle, but as the club comes behind the shoul- 
der, pass toward the right so that the club will fol- 
low course marked by solid line (Fig. 65). Now 

99 



CLUB SWINGING 



swing downward from *'b" and the club will execute 
an inward arm circle, 2. 

5. Combine exercises 3 and 4. This method of 
passing is used generally to come from the parallel 
left to parallel right, and vice versa. 




6. Swing double inward arm circle and pass, that 
is, reach outward after half of the double shoulder 
circle has been completed ; this changes the move-' 
ment from the double inward to the double out- 
ward movement. 

7. Change with pass from double outward to 
double inward. 

8. Parallel right, arm circles, i, pass, 2, to parallel 
arm circles, left, 3, etc. 

9. Parallel right, arm circles, i, shoulder circles, 2, 
turning trunk right with forward circles, 3 ; charge 

100 



PART FOUR 



with right foot to the right and swing the right club 
upward, holding it obliquely upward to right, and 
swing the left downward till obliquely downward at 
left, 4; pass the right club to the left, at same time 
swaying to a balance on the left foot, the left knee 
bent slightly and the right extended tO' the right, 5 ; 
parallel arm circles left, and replace right foot, 6; 
parallel shoulder circles left, 7; position, 8. 

10. Parallel right, arm circles, i, shoulder circles, 
2 ; with the clubs now in the position shown in Fig. 
3, raise the point of the right club so that it will be 
vertical, at the same time strike the base of the right 
club with the base of the left and simultaneously 
charge right foot sideways right, 3 ; replace foot and 
pass the clubs to the left, 4 ; turning trunk left, exe- 
cute forward circles, 5 ; turn front and execute arm 
circles, 6, shoulder circles 7, position, 8. 

11. Parallel right, arm circles, i, to shoulder cir- 
cles, 2; swing left to shoulder high at left side and 
swing right to arm-over-back position, 3 ; coming out, 
right executes a lower front and swings up to shoul- 
der high at right side, inward movement, 4 and 5 
(the left executes a lower back, outward, going into 
an arm-over-back position, 4, 5 ;) swing both clubs 
to left (parallel right movement), 6, shoulder circles, 
7, position, 8. 

12. Parallel arm circles, i, shoulder circles, 2; 
right executes a shoulder circle and the left a com- 
plete arm circle, 3 ; arm-circle, three quarter, to left 

101 



CLUB SWINGING 



at shoulder high with the left, and the right to arm- 
over-back position, 4 ; lower fronts parallel to the left, 
5, 6; parallel upper fronts, 7; position, 8. 

13. Starting parallel right, three-quarter-circle 
with left to shoulder high on left side, right to arm- 
over-back, I ; right lower front, and swing up to right 
.shoulder high, 2, 3, and left lower back circle and to 
arm-over-back position, 2, 3; left lower front and 
swing up to left shoulder high, 4, 5, right lower back 
<:ircle and to arm-over-back position, 4, 5 ; parallel 
movement left, arm circles and shoulder circles, 6, 7; 
position 8. 

14. Double outward arm circle and lower front, 
I, 2, as arms come to position shown in Fig. 59; 
raise them to horizontal in front of the body (mak- 
ing the upward movem.ent and completing the lower 
iront in the same motion) ; now execute the last half 
of the shoulder snake and throw off, 3, 4; two com- 
plete arm circles, 5, 6 ; shoulder circles, 7 ; position, 8. 




102 



I 



LESSON IV. 
COMBINATIONS. 

1. Stand as in Fig. 67, roll the clubs outward, i. e. 
apart; and, continuing this roll, complete horizontal 
circle above the arm, i ; pendulum swing to left side, 
2 ; and execute the outward horizontal circles, 3 ; pen- 
dulum to right, 4; etc. 

2. Same as exercise I, but start the circle by roll- 
ing the clubs inward and completing horizontal cir- 
cles, I ; pendulum, 2, etc. 

3. Hold clubs as in Fig. 66. Roll right club fol- 
lowing course indicated by line, thus executing a hori- 
zontal circle, with left swing to right as indicated, to 
position similar to that held by right in the cut; left 
now executes the horizontal circle and right the pen- 
dulum. 

4. Hold clubs as indicated in Fig. 66 ; execute hori- 
zontal circles toward right, with both at same time, 
and pendulum swing back to position. 

5. Parallel right three quarter circle with turning 
of trunk left, i ; execute outward horizontal circle, as 
in exercise i, 2; returning, 3; position, 4. 

6. Count I and 2, as in exercise 5, pendulum to 
shoulder high right, with trunk turning to right, 3; 
horizontal circles outward, 4, three quarter circle to 
position, 5, 6. 

103 



CLUB SWINGING 



7. Three quarter parallel right, i, execute hori- 
zontal circles from left to right shoulder high, as in 
exercise 4, 2 ; 3 ; returning, 4 ; outward shoulder cir- 
cles, 5 ; position, 6. 

8. Stand as in Fig. 67 and execute horizontal cir- 
cles above and below the arm, inward ; gradually sep- 
arate hands, bringing left to left side and right to 
right side. Same exercise with circles outward. 



9. The coffee grinder is also executed directly in 
front of the body. (See explanation on front hip 
coffee grind, Part II, Lesson IV, Exercise i.) Swing- 
ing clubs thus, bring forward and upward gradually 
to front and horizontal. 

10. In executing the coffee grinder in front of 
body, introduce snakes ; left executing regular snake 
and right reverse. Use half snakes also. 

The tangle and the coffee grinder also combine 
easily. Coffee grinder is used to pass from one paral- 




104 



PART FOUR 



lei movement to another, i. e., right to left or left to 
right. 

11. A very pretty movement is to execute the cof- 
fee grinder horizontally, then gradually bend body 
forvv^ard and bring arms downward, so that the clubs 
will be executing the movement vertically. 

12. Double arm circle and lower front, i, 2, upper 
front, 3 ; charge forward right ; and with right arm 
obliquely forward upward, and left obliquely down 
backward, allow right club to fall and rest on fore- 
arm, 4; bring left club forward upward and swing^ 
parallel arm circles to left side, 5 ; to right side, 6 ; 
left side, 7; position, 8. 

13. Execute alternate arms and shoulder circle 
forward. 

14. Execute backward circles in same way. 




105 



Part V. 

GENERAL INFORMATION. 



PART V. 



GENERAL INFORMATION. 

Below are given a few suggestions in the way of 
executing facings while swinging; it is naturally sup- 
posed that the pupil is familiar with the regular fac- 
ings. Care must be observed to keep the clubs mov- 
ing in the same plane throughout the movements. 

1. Execute parallel arm-and-shoulder circle con- 
tinuously to right, the arm circles being the odd 
counts, I, 3, 5, etc., and the shoulder circles the even. 
On 2 step forward with the left, on 4 pivot on toes, 
facing about to the right ; the clubs preserve the same 
direction, i. e., if the circles were started toward the 
right wall of the gymnasium they will still be going 
that way, but are now parallel circles to the left, as 
far as the performer is concerned ; on 6 the left foot 
is brought forward to position again; on count 8, in- 
stead of executing shoulder circle, come to position. 
Repeat exercise, starting parallel right again. 

2. Going parallel right, swing three quarter arm 
circle, i, tip, 2, return, 3, position, 4; as the clubs are 
being tipped, about face to left, 2; on 4 replace right 
foot. 

Same can be executed substituting forward or back- 
ward circles for the tipping, or by omitting these, 

108 



PART FIVE 



swinging only the pendulum and facing as the clubs 
reach shoulder height. 

3. Double inward complete arm circle ; as the clubs 
are rising to shoulder height, left about face, i. e., 
pivot on left heel and support with right toe ; now 
continue the complete arm circle downward and the 
club is describing a double outward arm circle ; exe- 
cute lower front and come to position, bringing 
right foot also to position. The double inward cir- 
cle until the clubs are directly overhead counts I ; 
as they descend, execute double arm circle, and 
lower front, count 2 and 3; position, 4; the facing 
takes place on 2 and the foot is replaced on 4. 

4. Double outward movement; swing clubs down- 
ward starting arm circles, swing the left behind the 
body and the right in front of the body, at the same 
time facing about to left, i ; continue the complete 
circle overhead and the clubs are now moving in- 
ward, 2, execute shoulder circle, also inward, and 
come to position, i. e., placing foot, on 4. 

5. Facing can also be executed in the follow move- 
ment while executing forward circles. 

Swing a parallel pendulum to left shoulder 
height, at same time left face ; now execute horizontal 
circles, bringing the arms apart; then proceed with 
some other exercise. 

To arrange to music it is best to have the exercise 
consist of eight counts. 

For torch swinging, fasten with wire to the end of 



109 



CLUB SWINGING 



an ordinary club a piece of cotton covered with metal 
gauze, and soak in alcohol ; this will serve for ordinary- 
torch swinging. Care must be taken not to have the 
cotton too wet or the lighted alcohol will fly off when 
the club is being swung. 

As the snake movements are hardly practical for 
this class of work, the performances should depend 
on simple circles. 

Exhibitions. 

For individual exhibition of fancy club swniging 
use decorated clubs or black clubs with nickeled deco- 
rations. Electric lights in or on clubs adapted to the 
purpose can be used where the current is available. 

Below are given suggestions for class exhibition. 
Form the class into four files, with files one and three 
one step in advance of files two and four. 

1. Parallel to right, arm and shoulder circles for 
8 counts; same to left; repeat. 

2. Double outward arm and shoulder circles, i, 
2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ; arm circle, 7 ; position, 8 ; same exercise, 
inward movement, 9 to 16; repeat. 

3. Parallel to right, three-quarter arm circle with 
charge to left, i. e., turn trunk to right and execute 
backward hand circles, 2; return to position by go- 
ing parallel left, 3 and 4; continue for 16 counts. 

4. Double movement, three quarter arm circle out- 
ward with tipping and knee bending, i and 2, (the 
arms are crossed in the tipping) ; return to position, 3 

110 



PART FIVE 



and 4; three quarter inward arm circle with tipping, 
the arms arriving at shoulder height, side horizontal; 
this with charging obliquely forward left, 5 and 6; 
return to position, 7 and 8; repeat counts I, 2, 3, 4, 
5, 6, 7, and 8, but the charging takes place obliquely 
forward right. 

Repeat entire exercise, making 32 counts in all. 

5. Parallel to left, three quarter arm circles, i, 
horizontal circle across front to left shoulder height, 
<see Lesson IV, Ex. 4), 2 and 3, pendulum back to 
right shoulder height, 4; repeat counts 2 and 3, re- 
peat count 4, return to position. Repeat entire ex- 
ercise parallel right. Alternate left and right, 32 
counts. 

6. Double arm circle outward, i, double shoul- 
der circle outward, 2, continue through entire exer- 
cise 72 counts ; 8 counts on place, then files two and 
four take steps sidew*ays right for 8 counts, while 
files one and three go sideways left 8 counts ; so that 
files one and two form one file, and files three and 
four another file ; continue the circles 8 counts on 
place, return to first position in 8 counts, 8 counts 
on place, then repeat entire process again. 

7. Parallel to left, three quarter arm circles, i ; 
horizontal circles across to left shoulder height, 2 
and 3, at same time charging to left ; now pendulum 
right arm to shoulder height right side, left arm 
swings behind body to arm-over-back, and body 
is bent sideways left on 4; come to left shoulder 



111 



CLUB SWINGING 



height again with both clubs, 5, tipping, 6, replace left 
foot and return to position, 7 and 8. Same exercise 
reversed, 9 to 16. Continue for 32 counts. 

8. a. Double movement; three quarter arm circle 
outward with tipping, arms crossed over chest, i and 
2; let the left come to walk-stand; arm circles in- 
ward to shoulder height (arms at side horizontal), 
with tipping and kneeling on right knee, 3 and 4; 
return by outward movement to arms crossed, with 
tipping; at some time raising to feet again, 5 and 6, 
return to position, 7 and 8. Repeat, coming to 
right walk stand, kneeling on the left knee. 

8. h. Parallel left, arm and shoulder circles, l, 
2, 3, 4, 5, 6; arm circle, 7; and position, 8; on count 
2 come to right walk stand ; on count 4 about face to 
left by pivoting on toes ; remain in this postion, i. e., 
left walk stand, until count 6; when the foot is re- 
placed. Repeat 8 a and 8 h. 

9. Outward double movement; lower fronts, two 
shoulder circles, i, 2, 3, 4; continue for 16 counts. 
Now execute h of exercise 8, then execute the first 
16 counts again, and follow by h of exercise 8. 

10. Inward double arm circle, i ; shoulder circle, 2 ; 
arm circle, 3 ; position, 4 ; continue for 16 counts. On 
2, left toe touch sideways left ; on 4, replace ; on 6, 
right toe touch ; 8, replace ; and so on for 16 counts. 

11. Parallel left, arm circles, i ; shoulder circles, 2; 
turn trunk left and execute forward circles at shoul- 
der height, 3 ; charge left and swing left club upward 



112 



PART FIVE 



and right downward, halting momentarily with the 
clubs; now left upward obliquely left and the right 
obliquely downward right, 4; pass left club behind 
head and raise right slightly so that they are now 
again together, at same time that feet are coming 
back to position again, 5 ; arm circles parallel right, 
6; shoulder circles, 7; position, 8; repeat exercise; 
continue for 32 counts, 

12. Double inward arm and shoulder circles ; con- 
tinue for 8 counts on place ; then, as in exercise 6, 
take 8 side steps forming two files; 8 counts on place, 
after which the two files thus formed step toward 
each other, i. e., file one and two as one file step left, 
and files three and four as one file step right for 8 
counts; 8 counts on place come to halt. With clubs 
on hips files step toward each other, forming twos 
and march out of gymnasium. 

For exhibition by classes of four or eight use a 
club made of tin, that is, two frustums or cones with 
their bases soldered together and the handle of a club 
attached ; the effect of these clubs in motion is very 
dazzling in lamxplight, as it gives the appearance of a 
continuous vibration, and the actual outline of the 
club is not discernible. 



113 



Part VI. 

CLUB SWINGING FOR GENERAL AND 
CORRECTIVE EXERCISE 



PART VI. 

CLUB SWINGING FOR GENERAL AND COR- 
RECTIVE EXERCISE. 

Club swinging may be made to embrace several sub- 
stantial general as well as corrective features by em- 
phasizing or exaggerating several details of form. In 
the case of executing continuous outward double arm 
circles, the arm is kept fully extended during the en- 
tire exercise, and as the clubs come over head, the 
pupil makes a strong effort to reach as high as possi- 
ble, as though to touch the ceiling, at the same time 
raising on the toes ; keeping up this stretch as the 
clubs come through the side horizontal position; and, 
as the clubs come down, sinking on the heels again. If 
during the entire exercise a conscious effort is made 
to keep the chest raised, a strong chest raiser and ex- 
pander will result. There is a vacuum produced at 
the apexes of the lungs which is beneficial to the lung 
proper, while the muscular work, besides being a good 
shoulder raiser, has a general effect on the external 
chest as to carriage and make up. 

The same is true of the continuous double inward 
arm circles, except that the stretch sideways takes 
place as the clubs are coming upward through the side 
horizontal position and is maintained as the clubs go 

116 



PART SIX 



overhead; then, as the clubs cross and come down, 
the effort to keep the chest raised must be emphasized. 

In executing double outward arm and shoulder cir- 
cles, the clubs should be raised as high as possible, 
when the arm circle is started; and on starting the 
shoulder circle the pupil should make a special effort 
to draw the elbows back and down, forcibly contract- 
ing the muscles between the scalpulas. This makes a 
good corrective exercise out of a simple movement. 

In executing the double inward arm and shoulder 
circles, the chest is thrown forward by the pupil's spe- 
cial effort, just as the shoulder circles are being made. 
An attempt should be made to pull the club downward 
as far behind the shoulders as possible. 

The writer has used this method of having the 
pupil make a special effort at certain points during 
the execution of the club exercises and results are 
very encouraging; breathing is usually very much 
in evidence after several of this class of exercises. 

Though suppleness of the wrists is perhaps greatly 
developed by the snake movements, the deltoid gets 
the burden of the wqjk, and manifests it unmistakably 
if this type of movements be executed continuously 
for a while. Special contraction of muscles between 
the scapulas as snakes are performed adds to their 
value. 

Change the routine by giving work including 
lunges, kneeling, and other vigorous leg work, also 
trunk movements. Marching sideways and execut- 

117 



CLUB SWINGING 



ing the class drill given before, with special empha- 
sis on the contraction of the muscles between the 
shoulders, will make a good combination. 

For endurance swinging the simple movements 
are best, such as double inward or outward arm and 
shoulder circles, adding every now and then a few 
complete arm circles, changing to the short reel and 
then the plain follow to the right and left; the reel 
and the follow movements, from the slight twisting 
of the body necessary to their execution, exercise a 
sort of mild massage, said to be very beneficial to 
the abdomen. 

As a form of light work, club swinging stands out 
as one of the most useful. It satisfies the desire of 
the pupil to hold or use some sort of apparatus in the 
performance of exercise. It is, besides, an agreeable 
change from the ordinary routine light work. There 
are few forms of exercise which are more pleasing to 
the eye. No unusual degree of strength is required 
to take up the work, and, contrary to most forms of 
exercise, interest for want of variety does not lag as 
time goes on ; but is kept up by the inexhaustible ma- 
terial at hand; and a sort of fascination grows with 
proficiency. 

Rhythm in exercise, upon which so much stress is 
laid by some writers, is practically coincident with 
club swinging. Rhythm seems to be a part of the 
work itself. The work allows easy arrangement 
into the most attractive and artistic form, develop- 



118 



PART SIX 



ing grace and control of mevement without losing 
any of its usefulness. 

The value of club swinging as a form of exercise is 
said to have been recognized by the British officers, 
after England had taken India under its wing; and 
they forthwith proceeded to annex the new exercise 
as one of their features of physical training. 



119 



A SUGGESTION IN CLUB SWINGING. 



By Paul C. Phillips, M. D. 

One great obstacle encountered in devising In- 
dian club drills for general exercise has been the 
difficulty of getting into them sufficient foot-pounds 
of work to develop organic vigor. The principal 
measures tried have been the increasing of the 
weight of the clubs, the use of great circles, and 
stepping and charging with the feet. All of these, 
in the experience of most physical directors, have 
fallen short of producing the desired effect. 

Quite recently the writer hit upon the idea of 
using continuous great circles in combination with 
lunges to obtain this effect and introduced a series 
of such movements into a competitive drill. The re- 
sults were excellent, the w^hole class puffing at the 
end of the series, as after the leg work of a Roberts 
drill. 

The series consisted of the following movements, 
performed with 2 to 3 lb. clubs : 

First Half. 

I. On count one lunge to right and describe full 
outside circle to right; on count two return to posi- 
tion and describe another circle like the first. Con- 
tinue without stopping club for 16 counts. 

120 



2. Same as i to left side with full left outside- 
circle with left arm and lunge of left leg. 

3. On counts one and two as in No. i ; on count 
three lunge to left, but continue describing full out- 
side circles to right; on four, back to position, de- 
scribing the same circle ; continue without stopping 
club for 16 counts. 

4. Same as No. 3, except that all the circles are 
to left with the left hand and the first lunge is to 
left. 

5. Full outside circles of both clubs (up cross) 
with leg work and count as in No. i. 

6. Same circles as in No. 5, with leg work and 
count as in No. 2. 

7. Up cross on count one at R lunge, on two at 
position, on three at left lunge, on four, at position. 
Continue without stopping club for 16 counts. 

Second Half. 

The second half of the series is like the part just 
given, except that full inside circles are used in- 
stead of outside ones. 

The above is a simple series, but immediately 
suggests numerous possibilities for these circles. 
The foot work may be varied by toe pointing, step- 
ping or charging in different directions, the circles 
combined in a variety of ways and heavier clubs 
may be used. The group has intentionally been 
kept simple, however, to achieve the end aimed at, 
amount rather than intricacy of work, and the con- 



121 



tinuous full circles and lunges making the best com- 
bination for its attainment. 

The "swing" of these exercises, especially when 
-they are accompanied by the piano, makes them 
^ery pleasurable to the gymnast. 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



are referred to by numbers in the text. The draw- 
ings will be found as follows: 



1 on 


page 5 


No. 20 


on page 35 


2 


15 


21 


35 


3 


18 


22 


38 


4 


22 


23 


38 


5 


22 


24 


39 


6 


23 


25 


41 


7 


23 


31-39 


54 


8 


25 


40-46 


66 


9 


25 


47-56 


67 


10 


25 


57-58 


74 


11 


27 


59 


77 


12 


27 


60-61 


88 


13 


29 


62 


93 


14 


29 


63 


94 


15 


29 


64 


98 


16 


29 


65 


100 


17 


33 


66 


102 


18 


33 


67 


104 


19 


33 


68 


105 



AMERICAN GYMNASIA 

A Monthly Magazine of Rational Physical 
Training 

Especially valuable for teachers and students 

Single copy 15 cents. Yearh' subscription $1.50. Sample 
copy free on request. 

PUBLISHED AT 

221 COLUMBUS AVENUE, BOSTON, MASS. 



PHYSICAL TRAINING BOOKS 

Books and pamphlets on gymnastics, 
athletics, dancing, fencing, aquatics 
and other forms of physical training. 

Printed list free. 

AMERICAN GYMNASIA CO., BOSTON, MASS. 



Hastings System of Physical 
Examination 

A card system of anthropometry' used 
by 1 50 American gymnasium directors. 
Special circular free on request to 

AMERICAN GYMNASIA CO., BOSTON. MASS. 



THE ART OF SWIMMING 

A new book on aquatics by R. F. 
Nelligan. Illustrated liberally. In 
line with physical training ideas. By 
mail, 65 cents. 

AMERICAN GYMNASIA CO., BOSTON, MASS. 



Relation of Public School Teachers 
to Corrective Gymnastics 

A pamphlet of value by G. B. Affleck. 
Price 10 cents. 

AMERICAN GYMNASIA CO., BOSTON, MASS. 



